QSR1868/4/5/11-12

Depositions of David Miller and his wife Elizabeth Milller, whitesmith of Leighton Buzzard. Esther Gower, widow of Leighton Buzzard. Edward Pratt, labourer of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of John Finch and George Pratt accused of stealing £3 and a box of which money and the box John Finch, George Pratt and others were beneficial owners and members of a society called The Free and Easy.

13 October 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

Elizabeth Miller: wife of David Miller. On 19 September both defendants came to her house between 9pm and 10pm at night. Finch told her he had been sent by her husband for the club box. Finch and Pratt were in her house. There was club box in the house containing money. It was locked with 3 locks. She went and got the box and gave it to Finch, in the presence of Pratt. She would not have given the box had he not said that her husband had sent him. About half an hour later a lad brought the box to her house broken open. It had no money in it and only a few papers. All 3 locks were broken. Her husband came in shortly afterwards and she showed him the box and told him what had happened. It was Edward Pratt who brought the broken box to her house. Esther Gower: she lived with the last witness. On the night of 19 September the defendants came to the house and she asked them to sit down. They did so. Finch said that Miller had sent him for the club box. Mrs Miller went upstairs, fetched down the box and gave it to Finch. Pratt was present. Finch took the box away. They came and went together. Shortly afterward the box was brought by a boy named Pratt. It was open and there was no money in it. When the box was given to Finch it rattled as if there was money in it. Miller came home shortly afterwards and was told of what had happened. David Miller: he left home on 19 September about 7.30am. He left upstairs in the house a box belonging to the Free and Easy Club held at the Greyhound in Leighton. He was secretary of the club. The defendants were members of the club. The box was placed with him for safe custody. There were 3 different locks on the box. The keys were kept by the President and 2 Stewards. He had no keys. When he left home there was over £3 in silver and halfpence in the box. He had not sent either of the defendants to get the box and they had no right to the possession of the box or the money, except as members of the club. The same evening he returned and his wife showed him the box and told him what had happened. The box had been sent to his house by Mr Church, when he failed. Edward Pratt: he was 18 years of age and lived with his parents at Leighton. The defendant Pratt was his father. On that Saturday night he took the box to the Millers. Finch gave him the box to take. Finch gave it to him up North End in the street and his father stood by Finch. He did not see the box was broken. The box produced was the same he had taken to the Miller’s house. Statement of the accused: John Finch – he came home once a week and heard Church had made a fail of it and had £20 of his money. He did not want the money. He would share it with the members of the club. George Pratt – Finch asked him if he would go with him to get he box as he would break it open and part the money between all of them.

item

Finch, John,
Pratt, George,
Miller, David,
Miller, Elizabeth,
Gower, Esther,
Pratt, Edward

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Leighton Buzzard Greyhound, stealing, whitesmith, societies clubs