QSR1867/2/5/1

Depositions of John Goodall, timber dealer of Wavendon. John George Perkins, draper of Wavendon and George Perkins, his assistant. George Fowler, parish constable of Ridgmont. In the case of James Large, late of Woburn Sands, accused of obtaining a cap and 2 shirts by false pretences.

20 March 1867

From: 1867 To: 1867

John Goodall: he lived at Woburn Sands in the parish of Wavendon, Bucks and was a timber merchant. The prisoner, a boy of 17 years, was in his employment up to Wednesday 13 March. The prisoner had been with him for about 5 weeks. On 9 February he told his daughter to take the prisoner to the shop of John George Perkins, a draper ay Woburn Sands. He told her to get some clothes, a jacket and trousers, which the prisoner had asked him to get for him. His daughter returned and said she had been with the prisoner. He did not give the prisoner authority to get any other clothes. The prisoner left his service without his knowledge and did not return. He went to Mr Perkins to see what goods had been had in his name and found the prisoner had articles exceeding those he had authorised him to get. He had not authorised the prisoner to get shirts or a cap which amounted to 6s 10d. Friends of the prisoner lived at Ridgmont and as he could to meet with him, he told the parish constable of Ridgmont that he would get a warrant against the prisoner. He heard the prisoner was in custody. He lived about 50 yards from Mr Perkins shop, which was about 20 yards from the boundary of Bedfordshire. The prisoner had told him when he had the jacket and trousers that he would stop and work them out. He had not given the prisoner money to buy a watch and the prisoner had had money from him during the 6 weeks he worked for him. John George Perkins: he was a draper residing in Woburn Sands. On 9 February, about 8pm, the prisoner came to the shop accompanied by Mr Goodall’s daughter. They had a cord jacket and trousers charged at 14 shillings. Between 10pm and 11pm the same evening the prisoner came alone and said he wanted a cap which he promised to pay for on the following Saturday. It was 1s 6d. The same evening the prisoner came again and said he wanted a shirt which his master would pay for. He supplied the prisoner with a shirt worth 2s 8d. He would not have trusted the prisoner with the shirt if he had not made use of Mr Goodall’s name. The prisoner did not pay for the cap when he said he would do so. He saw the prisoner the following week and asked him for the price of the cap. The prisoner said his master had seen the cap when he returned with it and said it should be added to his bill. He charged all the articles to Mr Goodall. He was subsequently informed Mr Goodall that the prisoner had goods in his name to the value of £1 0s 10d and Goodall said some of the good were had without his authority. George Perkins: he lived with his cousin and served in his shop. He knew the prisoner by sight. On the evening of 2 March the prisoner came to the shop and said he wanted a shirt and he had been sent by his master Mr Goodall and it was to be put down to his masters name. He supplied the prisoner with a shirt worth 2s 8d and the prisoner took it away. He knew the prisoner had goods at the shop which had been charged to Mr Goodall. He had been in the shop when the prisoner had the cap and shirt and heard him say the shirt was to be put to his master’s account. George Fowler: he was the parish constable for Ridgmont. On 13 March he was informed by Mr Goodall that James Large had been taking goods in his name. He went in search of the prisoner but could not find him. On 19 March he took the prisoner into custody at Ridgmont and told him the charge. The prisoner replied |Mr Goodall had given him leave to have some goods and had fetched some after but it had not come to a great deal. He took the prisoner to the police station and left him there. Statement of the accused: he asked Mr Goodall if he might have another shirt that night. Goodall said ‘yes’ and he had the cap at the same time as the shirt. He had worn a shirt for 3 weeks. He asked if he might had another and was told ‘yes’ and to tell Polly when he came back. He showed the shirt to Mr Goodall and told her [Polly] the next morning. She wrote it in the book. He told her it was 2s 8d.

item

Large, James,
Goodall, John,
Perkins, John George,
Perkins, George,
Fowler, George

Wavendon, WOBURN SANDS, RIDGMONT, false pretences, caps, shirts, timber merchants, drapers, parish constables, draper's assistant