QSR1868/2/5/4

Depositions of John Young, baker of Dunstable. Hannah Nicholls, widow of Dunstable. Elizabeth Barrett, Joseph Sibthorpe, Eliza Short and John Cook of Dunstable. In the case of Charles Cook, accused of embezzling sums of money whilst being the servant of John Young.

11 March 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

John Young: he was a baker at Dunstable and the prisoner had been in his service since the previous August. The prisoner was employed to carry out bakings, to take out bread and to give him an account of what he had taken out when he got back. On 18 January he sent the prisoner to Mrs Nicholls to deliver bread. On his return he asked the prisoner what Mrs Nicholls had said the prisoner said she would pay the little debt as soon as he had taken some money. On 8 February he sent the prisoner to Charles Lockhart. He would always tell the prisoner what was owed. The prisoner had to deliver to Mr Lockhart four and a half quartern loaves. He asked the prisoner why Lockhart did not pay and he said that Mrs Lockhart would call in and pay. He told Cook he knew something was wrong and he would call in and see. On 10 February he sent the prisoner with bread to Mrs Sibthorpe. On 18 January Mrs Nicholls account was 7s 5d. He told the prisoner the amount owing. He had not received that amount from any person. On 8 February his account against Charles Lockhart was 5s 10d ½ and he had not received that amount. On 10 February the account against Mr Sibthorpe was 1s 3 farthings and he had not received that amount. [cross examination] he had never complained to his parents of the prisoner losing or being deficient in his money. He had seen the mother of the prisoner since the prisoner left and had not arranged to take the amounts by instalments of 2s 6d per week. Hannah Nicholls: she was a widow living in Dunstable. She knew the prisoner as he came for orders for his master. On 17 January she asked him to ask his master to send word of how much she owed him for bread. On 18 January she paid him 7s 5d and on the following Monday she asked the prisoner if that had been right, and the prisoner replied yes. She did not take a receipt for the amount. Elizabeth Barrett: she was servant to Mr Charles Lockhart and had known the prisoner all the time he had been with Mr Young bring bread and bakings. On 8 February she saw the prisoner and took 4 loaves from him. She gave him half a crown and he gave her 1s 1d out of his own purse. She did not take a receipt for the money. Joseph Sibthorpe: he was a butcher residing at Dunstable. On 10 February he saw the prisoner in his brother’s shop. The prisoner brought 2 half quartern loaves and he paid him a shilling and 3 farthings. He did not take a receipt. Statement of the accused: nothing. Eliza Short (called on behalf of the defence): she was the mother of the prisoner. On 19 February she went to Mr Young and asked him if he could take the money. Young told her Charles was deficient but he would not state a sum to her. Young said he had no wish to prosecute Charles but he could not lose the money. Before he came away she made and agreement with Young to pay half a crown a week and she was to pay half a crown on the 15th. He did not tell her he would consider it. John Cook (called on behalf of the defence): he was the grandfather of the prisoner and had gone to Mr Young to place the boy with him. Young was to take the boy for a week or 2 to do odd jobs and take out a baking now and then. He told Young that if the boy did not suit him to return him. He never received any complaints from Young until 11 February. Young’s man Thomas Halifax came to his house and asked him if he knew that Charles had left. He went to Young and Young said Charles was deficient by about £2 and that he wanted his money. He said that the boy was wrong if there was a deficiency and he would pay it. When he placed the prisoner with Mr Young and did not specify anything about his taking out bread.

item

Cook, Charles,
Young, John,
Nicholls, Hannah,
Barrett, Elizabeth,
Short, Eliza,
Cook, John,
Lockhart, Charles

DUNSTABLE, embezzlement, baker, butcher, servant