QSR1899/3/5/5

The Examination of Charles Hickman of Cardington in the County of Bedford, Brewer; James Abbot of Blunham in the County aforesaid Labourer; Alfred James Low of Goldington, Whitesmith; Walter George Purser of Great Barford, Police Constable. In the case of John Harrington alias Patrick Joseph Harigan between the 11th and 18th day of May 1899 did feloniously steal take and carry away a cash box of the value of one shilling and certain valuable securities to wit a share certificate for one hundred five shilling shares in the Croyden Gold Field Company and three promissory notes for Twelve pounds each not matured the goods chattels and valuable securities of the said Charles Hickman.

27th May 1899

From: 1899 To: 1899

This Deponent Charles Hickman on his Oath saith as follows:- I live at Cardington – I was [possessed] of a cash box - I kept the cash box in a safe in my office at Cardington - I saw the cash box on May the 12th It was then in the safe – It contained a share certificate for 100 5/- shares in the Croydon gold mine – a receipt for £5 for a call in respect of there shares – & several promissory notes for £12 each – none of the notes had matured – On Thursday the 18th May I missed the cash box - The safe was not locked as a [rule] in the day time – I have no men working for me only members of my household have access to my office This Deponent of James Abbott - I am a Labourer living at Blunham - On Sunday 21st May I was in the Bee Hive public house at 12.40 p.m about 1.o’clock a stranger came in – it was the prisoner – He sat behind me for an hour. He said to me he had something in his pocket worth a bit I said “Oh are you” – at turning out time we went out & I and the prisoner came up the road towards Bedford as far as Cuckoo brook – there we sat down on the grass – he pulled out a handful of papers & showed them to me there were about 20 – one was about Croydon Gold Mine – there where other papers on some of which I noticed the name of Charles Hinkman Cardington Brewery” and two or three of the papers had “12” on them - he packed up the papers and put them in an envelope – he said the papers had been stolen from a safe and that he had had them in his possession for a week – he asked me if I should like anything to eat and we went back towards Barford - I waited by the brook about two hours afterwards he came back – he said “shall we go a bit further”? I did not go – he went into the direction of Bedford – When we were sitting by the brook someone went by on a bicycle and the prisoner tried to hide the papers under my leg – The prisoner was a stranger to me I had not then heard that any document had been stolen. [Cross examined] by prisoner – I remember you coming into the public house You treated me to a pint of beer – we had a bottle of beer in our pocket – I sat on the grass and gave you a drink out of the bottle - The paper produced marked “A” was the one you showed me. [Re Examined] The prisoner showed me the paper A in the public house he did not show me it by the brook – the documents he showed me at the brook were different documents. [By the Bench] – The paper A was not shown to me whilst I was sitting on the grass. This Deponent Alfred James Low I am a Whitesmith and live at Goldington. I remember 21st instant. I went to the “Golden Lion” beerhouse about 9.15 in the evening. I saw the prisoner there. He brought out a paper and showed it round. I left at 5 minutes to 10 o’clock. The prisoner ran after me. He said “Alf” I said “what do you want” He said he had got some papers in his pocket and if I would take him to the light he would show them to me. He also said I could make a hundred or two out of them I said “I’ll have nothing to do with it” Last time I saw him he was in Goldington – about 5 minutes past 10 o’clock. [Cross Examined] by prisoner I saw you drinking out of a pint pot. You were not intoxicated This Deponent Walter George Purser:- I am a police constable stationed at Great Barford. On Sunday evening the 21st instant. I went in search of the prisoner. I found him about 2.30 Monday morning 22nd instant asleep in some outbuildings at Goldington. I woke him up and told him I should charge him with stealing a cash box and some notes and shares from Cardington. He said “I never had any notes or shares, I know nothing at all about it and you have got the wrong man. I have come straight from Bedford to this village. I was in a public house and came straight from it to where you’ve found me” While I was taking him to Bedford he said “You have got the case my mouth is shut you find the notes” I searched him and found the document produced. [Cross Examined] by the Prisoner I might have asked you twice if you had any notes in your possession. You did not say “You’ve asked me enough about the notes. If you have lost them you must find them.” Statement of Accused: I want to say this I don’t know whether I am being tried by the Superintendant of police or the magistrates on the bench. I have been in gaol now 5 days merely at the word of the Superintendant without any form of trial whatsoever. Now he brings 2 men up and on the word of these 2 men I have got to go to gaol again. The only evidence they put forth is that I have told them something myself. Exhibit Marked “A” is a Application for Situation as Porters, Shunters, Lad porters or other similar capacity under the Central Railway Company. Which hold details of John Harrington . [Note] on 2nd and 4th pages poetry written by unknown persons

9 pages

item

Hickman, Charles,
Abbot, James,
Low, Alfred James,
Purser, Walter George,
Harrington, John,
Harigan, Patrick Joseph

brewer, labourer, whitesmith, police constable, stealing, CARDINGTON, BLUNHAM, GOLDINGTON, Great Barford, Golden Lion Beer House, Bee Hive Public House, Central Railway Company