QSR1867/1/5/12

Depositions of George Yard, otherwise Lumbard, no.2 Melville Street, Plumstead, Kent, proprietor of a Christy Minstrel Establishment. George Seconde, agent of no.11 Finsbury Street, Leeds. William Knight Clough, superintendent of police of the Leighton Buzzard division. In the case of George Corsby accused of stealing 120 printed hand bills.

27 November 1866

From: 1866 To: 1867

George Yard: he went by the name of George Lumbard and was resident at no.2 Melville Terrace, Plumstead. He was proprietor of an establishment called The Christie Minstrels. The prisoner had been in his employment as a musician and during his illness the prisoner had received money. He was to give the prisoner half the profits, after expenses. The prisoner had no salary and was bear no loss. There was no contract. The prisoner had no voice in the business or power to interfere and he could be discharged at any moment. The prisoner was not a partner. He gave the accused notice in October 1867 and he went away without settling up. He had 3000 bills in his possession when the prisoner left. They were similar to the ones produced. He had not seen the prisoner until he had come to this town [Leighton Buzzard] that day. He missed the bills a week after the prisoner had left. He had other bills produced since the prisoner left. The bill produced was one and it had his name cut off it. No one had the blocks from which the bills were printed as they were his own property. He valued 100 printed bills at 10 shillings. He had paid for the bills since the prisoner had left his service. About the time he missed the bills, a man by the name of Raineland [?] left his service and had since joined the prisoner. There was no bad feeling on his part to the prisoner. The prisoner absconded with all the money. He had told the prisoner he was not a partner and he never fell out with him as he would not account to him. He did not recognize the prisoner as a partner and the prisoners name was not on the bills. The ‘Co’ on the bills was his brother. [cross examination] the prisoner came to him after the remand on 13 November and said he received the bills from George Vernon. Vernon had been in his employment and had absconded a week after the prisoner left. George Seconde: he had 3000 bills in his possession in Southampton in October. The prisoner was then in his employment and left his employment on 7 October. He had the bills in his possession and had not missed any. On arrival at Leighton Buzzard he found some bills in the possession of the prisoner. He got to Leighton on 10 November. The bill produced was a portion of a bill and had been cur to pieces and put together again. It was the prosecutor’s property. He got the bills a from Mr Steers, the bill sticker. They had the bottom cut off. He gave them into the hands of the Superintendent and got a search warrant, and warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner, on 12 November. He went to the Corn Exchange that the prisoner had occupied. The prisoner produced a quantity of bills which were Mr Lumbard’s property. The superintendent took possession of the bills found. To his knowledge the prisoner was no considered a partner of the prosecutor. Superintendent William Clough: on 12 November he went to the Corn Exchange in Leighton and saw the prisoner in the back room. He told the prisoner he had a warrant to search for some placards which had been stolen from Mr Lumbard. He asked the prisoner if he had any such property and he replied “I have some bills like what you mention”. The prisoner brought the large bulls out of a box in the room. There were 120 of them. He told the prisoner he would take him into custody. The prisoner said the bills were his property. The name of Lumbard was on the bills. Statement of the accused: he was a partner and to participate in the losses and gains. He was not the actual party who took the bills. They were found in the property box not in his box.

item

Yard, George,
Lumbard, George,
Seconde, George,
Clough, William Knight,
Corsby, George

Plumstead, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Leeds, stealing, musical theatre, musicians