QSR1833/2/5/3

Depositions of John Green, gentleman of Biggleswade. James Farmer, labourer of Biggleswade. In the case of Thomas Gammons accused of stealing 2 half crowns and 3 shillings.

6 March 1833

From: 1833 To: 1833

John Green: he was chief clerk of Messrs Hogg and Lindsale. On 6 March he saw Thomas Gammon come into the yard for beer. He saw James Farmer give Gammons a horn of beer to drink. Farmer went across the road and he watched Gammons. Gammons went into the counting house and put the door a little nearer to being shut. He went out and looked around and then went back in again. He rang the bell for Farmer and told him to bring him the money. Gammons came up to him for his receipt and Famer came up and said they were only 2 sovereigns in the drawer. He then took Gammons across into the bank and asked him what money had put in his pocket. Gammons said 13 or 14 shillings. He asked to look and Gammons pulled out a purse containing 9 shillings and 6 pence. He told Gammons he had more and that he had 2 half crowns. Gammons pulled 2 half crowns and 3 shillings from his other pocket. He charged him with having stolen the money and Gammons denied it. He watched the counting house the whole time and he was sure no person by Gammons went into the counting house. James Farmer: he was under clerk and porter at Messrs Hogg & Lindsale of Biggleswade and was employed in the brewhouse yard. Having lost some money out of the drawer in a small counting house in the yard a fortnight previous, he had reason to suspect Thomas Gammons of having taken it. On 4 March Gammons came to the yard with a cart and horse for some beer for Mr Garratt. Gammons gave him 2 half crowns and 3 shillings for the beer and he put it in the drawer in the small counting house. Gammons saw him put it in. He gave Gammons a horn of beer and left him drinking it at the door of the counting house. He went across the road into the brewer’s yard and watched Gammons. He saw Gammons place his left hand on the door post and reach up with his right towards the drawers into which he had put the money. He then went back into the yard where the counting house was and after going up into Mr Green, the head clerk’s, counting house, he went into his counting house. Gammons was coming away. He went and looked in the drawer and found that the 2 half crowns and 3 shillings were gone and that 2 sovereigns were left. He heard Mr Green asked Gammons what money he had in his pocket and he saw Gammons take the 2 half crowns and 3 shillings out of his right hand pocket.

item

Gammons, Thomas,
Green, John,
Farmer, James

BIGGLESWADE, gentleman, stealing, money, Hogg & Lindsell, brewhouses, chief clerk, porter