QSR1869/3/5/8

Depositions of Richard Futter Mann, apprentice in the shop of William Charles Frost, ironmonger at Leighton Buzzard. Robert Belgrove, farmer of Soulbury. John Cosby, lodging house keeper and retail beer seller of Leighton Buzzard. Thomas Parrott, plait dealer of Leighton Buzzard. William Knight Clough, superintendent of police of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Alfred Giles accused of obtaining a spade and garden fork by false pretences.

8 June 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

Richard Futter Mann: he was an apprentice in the shop of William Charles Frost, an ironmonger. He lived in the house and knew the prisoner. On 1 April the prisoner came to the shop and asked for a spade and fork and said he had been sent by Mr Belgrove of Stockgrove, who was a customer of his master. He asked the prisoner his name and he gave it. He entered the spade and fork in his master’s book to Mr Belgrove. The prisoner took the spade and fork away. The value of the items was 3s 6d. He could swear to the tools by his master’s private mark. He had not seen the prisoner in the shop before or after that date. Robert Belgorve: he was a farmer and lived in the parish of Soulbury. He did not know the prisoner and had never employed him. He did not give the prisoner orders to get a spade and fork from Mr Frost’s shop. He did deal with Frost occasionally. John Cosby: he knew the prisoner well. About a fortnight previous the prisoner had been lodging in his lodging house. The prisoner had a spade and fork before he came to the lodgings. He asked the prisoner where he had got them from as inquiries had been made about them. The prisoner took some minutes to reply and said he had them from Frost and set them to Mr Belgrove. He informed the police. Thomas Parrott: he was a plait dealer. He knew the prisoner well and that he had been at work on Mr Reeves land with a spade and fork. He bought them of the prisoner and gave him 1s 9d for the fork and 1s 3d for the spade. He had them in his possession until they were fetched away by the PC. The prisoner said that last Winter he had been at work for Mr Garner and that he pledged the fork at Mr Dumpleton’s and that he bought the spade from Isaac Reeve. Superintendent William Clough: on 5 June he took the prisoner into custody at Buckingham. He had a warrant for him. The prisoner said he bought the fork and spade and had paid 6 shillings for them and the shopman had given him 3 halfpence back to get a pint of beer. The prisoner said he had bought the tools from Mr Frost’s shopman. After they got to Leighton Buzzard the prisoner said he bought the items at the lower shop and he said to the prisoner that he must mean Farrs and the prisoner agreed. Statement of the accused: he had the fork and spade on 27 March and bought them at Mr Frost’s on the day he had been working in the garden of Mr Reeve. He had paid for them and was given 3 half pence back.

item

Mann, Richard Futter,
Giles, Alfred,
Frost, William Charles,
Belgrove, Robert,
Cosby, John,
Parrott, Thomas,
Clough, William Knight,
Reeve

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Soulbury, spade, fork, farmer, ironmonger, false pretences, retailer of beer, plait dealer, lodging house keeper