QSR1898/4/5/7

The Examination of John Owen Jones of Biggleswade, Surveyor of Highways for the Biggleswade Rural District Council; George Wagg of the same place, Solicitors Clerk. William Atthow of Sandy, Labourer; William Frost of Sandy, Labourer; Charles Jeeves of Sandy, Labourer. In the case of John William Brown Rooke divers dates between the 29th day of May 1897 and the eleventh day of September One Thousand eight hundred and ninety seven at Biggleswade in the said County of Bedford them being an Officer to wit the Surveyor in the employment of the Biggleswade Rural District Council did unlawfully and wilfully and with intent to defraud make or concur in making certain false entries in certain Books to wit a Wages Book and a Cash Book which then belonged to the said Council.

27th July 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

Deponent John Owen Jones on his Oath saith as follows: - I am Surveyor in the employ of the Biggleswade Rural District Council I produce on authority under the seal of the Council authorising these proceedings. I have measured the brooking in Sandy Parish and the length is 7 miles 8 chains and 70 links. [Cross Examined by the Prisoner] I am not aware that the length of the brooking is 13 miles. Deponent George Wagg saith: - I am a Solicitors Clerk at Biggleswade and acting clerk to the Biggleswade Rural District Council. Up to the 1st October 1897 Defendants was in the employ of the Council as Surveyor. The 2 books produced are the Cash Book and Wages Book and belong to the Council and during Mr Rookes employ were in his custody on behalf of the Council. I am well acquainted with Defendants handwriting. The entries on p. 71 of the wage book are in his handwriting and are under the heading of the Parish of Sandy. On the first line of p. 71 appears “Atthow William” on week ending 29 May 1897 £2.15.0 (on account) On 5 June (on account) £2.15.0. On 12 June 1897 (on account) £3.0.0. On 19th June 1897 (on account) £3.0.0 Total £11.10.0 (when paid) 19 June 1897 – opposite this is “W. X Atthow” apparently in the handwriting of the Defendant. On p. 42 of the Cash Book under the heading of Sandy there is £11.10.0 entered under manual labour in the handwriting of the Defendant and to his credit. On line 2 of p. 71 of the Wages Book there appears the name of “Atthow William”brooking. 26 June on account £3.0.0. 3 June on account £3.0.0 10 July on account £3.10.0 17 July on account £3.0.0. Total £12.10.0 purported to have been paid on 17th July. Opposite this is “W. X. Atthow” On p 43 of the Cash Book is an entry of £12.10.0 paid for Sandy Parish under the heading of manual labour to credit of defendant and in his handwriting. On line 3 of p 71 of the Wages Book appears “Atthow William Wm and Co” brooking, 24th July on account £3.0.0. 31 July on account £3.0.0. 7 August £6.10.0. Totalled to £12.10.0 and paid 7 August – opposite this appears “W. X Atthow” On p. 44 of the Cash Book appear £12.10.0. under Parish of Sandy for manual labour to credits of Defendant and in his own handwriting - On line 4 of p 71 of Wages Book appears “Atthow and Co”, brooking, 21 August on account £3.0.0. 28 August on account £3.0.0.4 Sept on account £3.0.0. 11 Sept £4.10.0 totalled to £13.10.0, paid on 11th Sept. On same line appears W X Atthow”. This is carried to the Cash Book on p45 as £13.10.0 to creditof defendant in his own writing and against Parish of Sandy. The 4 totals of £11.10.0, £12.10.0, £12.10.0 and £13.10.0 amount to £50. the Certificate at the foot of the Wager Book to the purport that the particulars of the work performed and wages earned are correct and that the amounts due have been paid to the respective labourers, is signed “John W. B. Rooke” District Surveyors the signature being in his own handwriting. The Deponent William Atthow saith: - I live at Girtford and am a labourer. I have been accustomed to do the brooking in the Parish of Sandy for 20 years under the direction of the Surveyors of Highways. There is about 71/2 miles of brooking in the Parish. In 1896 here was a change of Surveyors from Mr [Mr Manning to Mr. Rooke - In 1896 Mr Manning and Mr Rooke were together and we agreed upon a price for the brooking for 1896 which came to a total of about £29.17.6 In 1897, when the brooking was to be done again Mr Rooke saw me and I took the job on again. William Frost and Charles Jeeves heled me to do the brooking in 1897. There was no one else did any brooking in the Parish. Mr Rooke paid the £29.17.6 last year for the brooking. I received no [ticket] when I was paid. I used to draw on account from time to time - every week – generally £3.0.0 a week. I commenced the brooking last year on the 1st or 2nd of June and was at it about 7 weeks and 3 or 4 days. I did no brooking after the 1st week in August in 1897.nor in September. I was in Norfolk during that period. Neither of my mates drew any money for the brooking as far as I know. I can neither read nor write. I have never done any other work for Mr Rooke except brooking. [Cross Examined by Prisoner] I do not recollect coming up to your house and marking the brook – only when you settled with me. The Deponent of William Frost saith; - I live at Sandy and am a labourer. I am a son-in-law of the last witness and have been accustomed to help him with the brooking. In 1897 I and Charles Jeeves, my father –in-law did the brooking in Sandy Parish. No one else did any. My father-in-law told me what price was to be paid for the brooking last year. I never drew any money either from Mr or Mrs Rooke in respect of the brooking. Deponent Charles Jeeves saith: - I live at Sandy and am a Labourer. In 1897 I helped to do the Brooking in Sandy Parish with William Atthow and William Frost. No one else did any brooking in the Parish. William Atthow told me what arrangements had been made as to price. I never received any money on account of the brooking from either Mr or Mrs Rooke. I received somewhere about £10 as my share for the brooking. Statement of Accused: I am not guilty. Ajourned to 24th November 1898 as Jury did could not agree a Verdict.

13 pages

item

Jones, John Owen,
Wagg, George,
Atthow, William,
Jeeves, Charles,
Frost, William,
Rooke, John William Brown

labourer, surveyor, solicitor's clerk, Girtford, SANDY, BIGGLESWADE, fraud