QSR1866/4/5/6

Depositions of Thomas Brown, of Chalton, in the parish of Toddington, a foreman in the employment of Messrs Brassey and Ballard, Railway Contractors. James Busby, police constable stationed at Harlington. John Olden, police sergeant stationed at Toddington. William Gibson, minor of Chalton. Henry Small, railway contractor of Luton. In the case of William Pedder, labourer and late of Harlington accused of stealing a quantity of boards, sleepers and sprags used for the Midland Extension London and Bedford Railway.

3 September 1866

From: 1866 To: 1866

Thomas Brown: a foreman in the employment of Messrs Brassey & Ballard, who had railway works in the course of construction at Harlington, on the new Midland Railway. He lived at Chalton in the parish of Toddington. There had been a heading or small tunnel constructed by the village of Harlington. There were certain boards used in the forming of the heading. They were brought to Harlington in the first or second weeks of July. He had missed the boards and spraggs lately from the works. On the morning of 3 September PC Busby showed him a quantity of boards, sleepers and spraggs which he identified as belonging to the works. Spraggs were used on the railway for stopping carriages. There was nearly a cart load. he valued the whole at least at 6 shillings. The prisoner lived at Harlington and was a labourer employed at the works as a plate layer up to the time he was taken into custody. Sergeant John Olden: on 1 September he went with PC Busby to the garden adjoining the house of William Pedder. In a ditch they found a quantity of old sleepers and spraggs, which he knew to be used on a railway. They were concealed by some fagot wood. In the prisoner’s barn they found some pieces of wood. He went to the prisoner, who was worked in the line at Harlington. He asked the prisoner to account for the wood and the prisoner said he had picked it up off the line a long time ago. He took him into custody. PC James Busby: he was with Olden when they found the boards, sleeper and spraggs. He took charge of them. There was a cart load. He showed them to Thomas Brown, who identified them. He had seen the prisoner coming from the line with wood several times. William Gibson: he was a minor in the employment of Messrs Brassey and Ballard. The board produced was an old board from Chalton. It had been sent from Chalton to the heading at Harlington. Henry Small: he had charged of the No.6 contract works from New Mill End, Luton to Flitwick. Chalton and Harlington were between the 2 places. There had been a heading constructed at Harlington. On the first or second week of July he gave direction for certain boards to be sent from the yard at Luton to Harlington for the special purpose of forming the heading. The boards produced were similar to those sent. No person had right or authority to take away or sell the boards, sleepers or spraggs. When the sleepers were old they were sold at public auction. Such boards as those produced would not have been sold at any time. Statement of the accused: he could not say which but he had taken some bits home.

item

Brown, Thomas,
Pedder, William,
Busby, James,
Olden, John,
Gibson, William,
Small, Henry,
Brassey, Thomas,
Ballard, Stephen

Chalton, TODDINGTON, HARLINGTON, LUTON, stealing, railway contractor, Midland Railway Company, foreman, railway worker, tunnels