QSR1899/4/5/7

Depositions of Thomas Bright Rogers, of Rose Cottage Ravensden; Laura Rogers, wife of Thomas Bright Rogers of Ravensden; Albert Frederick Dennis, Errand boy of 56 Bower Street Bedford; Joseph Tabron Steer, Police Constable of Bedford; Henry Quenby, Superintendent of Police of Bedford and George Edward Howard, assistant jeweller of 28 Adelaide Square Bedford In the case against Henry Osborn accused of receiving a gold chain and other articles to the value of £6, the property of Thomas Bright Rogers.

22 August 1899

From: 1899 To: 1899

Thomas Bright Rogers said: I live at Rose Cottage Ravensden. On Tuesday the 8th inst about 5 o’clock in the morning I locked up my house and went with my wife to Liverpool. On the morning of Wednesday the 9th inst I returned and unlocked my house. I found the house had been broken into during my absence and certain articles missing. On the same morning about 9.10am I wet to Osborn’s shop. I saw Mr Osborn. I was once in his employ for a month. I asked him if he could give me the number of my silver watch which my father had bought for me 8 years ago. I told him my wife’s watch and a gold chain was missing. I told him Mr Shaw said the chain was a secret link chain with a T and lassel. I told him there was also some old coins and a medal missing. He said he was afraid he could not give me the number of my silver watch as it had been so long ago that he had burnt the book. He asked me where I lived and I said at Rose Cottage Ravensden. I told him I thought the house had been broken into. Laura Rogers said: I am the wife of the last witness. I remember Tuesday the 8th August. I then left my house at 5 o’clock the morning and went with my husband to Liverpool. I left my watch and chain in a drawer in my dressing room. The chain produced is my property. I returned on the 9th instant with my husband. We went in and I discovered signs of the house having been entered during our absence. My chain produced was then missing. I have had the chain 4 years. Albert Frederick Dennis said: I live at 56 Bower Street Bedford and am an errand boy. I know John Henry Pinder. I saw him on Wednesday August 9th about 11am in Gwyn Street Bedford. He had the gold chain produced with him. He went into Mr Osborn’s the watchmaker’s I went with him. Pinder was in the shop about 5 minutes. I waited outside. Joseph Tabron Steer said: I am a member of the Beds Constabulary stationed at Bedford. On Friday the 11th August at 8am I went to Osborn’s shop in Gwyn Street. I saw him. I said “Has anyone been in to sell a gold chain this morning.” He said “One came in yesterday.” He said “I bought it for five shillings, a young man brought it in and said he had found it down Honey hills. He showed me a lady’s silver watch as well but he said he did not want to sell that.” I said “Have you got the chain now.” He said “No I have sold it.” I said “Who to.” He said “It has gone out the town.” I said “I want it, as one has been stolen from Ravensden.” He said “You can have it for the 5 shillings I gave for it.” He also said he had not got it. I said “We have a man in custody on a charge of stealing will you come up and identify him.” He said “No I am not going to any more trouble.” On Saturday the 12th the prisoner handed me the chain produced. He came down to the Police Station with it. Henry Quenby said: I am Superintendent of Police for the County of Bedford staioned at Bedford. On Friday the 11th August about 3pm I went to Deft’s shop in Gwyn Street Bedford. I saw Defendant. I said “Mr Osborn I have come to see you with reference to the gold chain you bought.” He said “Yes I have bought one. A young man whom I did not know came into the shop the day before yesterday and asked me to buy it. He said he had found it at Honey hills and he had looked on the police board and there was no reward offered for it and he should sell it.” Osborn said “I offered him 5 shillings for it. He did not seem to think that was enough. I laid the 5 shillings down on the counter with the chain and told him he could have which he liked, He said he would have the 5 shillings.” I said to Defendant “Where is the chain.” He said “I sold it the same day.” I said “Who to.” He said “I don’t know but I will get it.” I said “You ought not to buy a gold chain from a person you don’t know, who says he had found it, it is not his.” Defendant said “It don’t pay to be honest now. I have wrote to Rogers to tell him if he will pay me back the 5 shillings I will get the chain.” I said “Do you refuse to tell me where the chain is.” He said “Yes.” I said “I am not at all satisfied with your conduct throughout and I shall feel it my duty to charge you with receiving the chain knowing it to be stolen.” He made no reply. The next morning the Defendant came to the Police Station with the chain now produced. He said “I have brought the chain. I sent it to a man on appro’ and he was either to bring the money for it or the chain by Saturday morning.” I told him to hand the chain over to P.C. Steer, which he did. George Edward Howard said: I live at 28 Adelaide Square. I am an assistant jeweller in the employ of Mr Shaw, High Street Bedford. The chain produced is a 9 carat gold. It is worth about 25 shillings. statement of the accused: I reserve my defence.

14 pages

item

Rogers, Thomas Bright,
Rogers, Laura,
Dennis, Albert Frederick,
Steer, Joseph Tabron,
Quenby, Henry,
Howard, George Edward,
Osborn, Henry,
Pinder, John Henry

Ravensden Rose Cottage, RAVENSDEN, Bedford Bower Street, BEDFORD, Bedford Adelaide Square, errand boy, receiving stolen goods, gold chain, watch