QSR1898/4/5/14a

The Examination of Kate Trueman the wife of Louis Trueman in the parish of Eastcotts in the County of Bedford; Alfred Sharman Palmer of Bedford, Clerk; Mary Ann Summerfield the wife of Frederick Summerfield of Cardington Bedfordshire; John Gammons Cardington; Station Master; Thomas Dennis, Bedford, Police Constable. In the case of Albert Wilson accused of unlawfully and knowingly by certain false pretence did obtain from Kate Trueman a certain quantity of food together of the value of Two Shillings the goods and chattels of Louis Trueman with intent to defraud to the statute in such case made and provided. And also for that he the said Albert Wilson on the 14th day of October 1898 at Cardington in the County aforesaid unlawfully and knowingly by a certain false pretence did obtain of and from Mary Ann Summerfield a certain quantity of food together of the value of eight pence the goods and chattels of Frederick Summerfield with intent to defraud contrary to the statute in such case made and provided.

29th October 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

This Deponent Kate Trueman on her Oath saith as follows: - I am the wife of Louis Trueman and live at New Fenlake in the parish of Eastcotts. About [8] o’clock in the morning on Thursday the 13th October the prisoner came to my house. He said “Is this Mrs Trueman?” I said “Yes”. He said “do you take in lodgers?” I said “Yes” He said “I am a clerk in the Midlands Good Station at Bedford” He said “Mrs Hall sent me to you” Mrs Hall lives near me. I said “Do you board yourself?” He said “No I always pay 14/- a week” I said “I won’t take 14/” so he decided to give me 13/- He said “I’ve came from Northampton this morning. I started at 4.30” I asked him if I should get his breakfast. He said “Yes there’s some eggs and bacon in my basket”. I cooked them for him. I found him some bread and pickles for his dinner. He went out after dinner and did not come back till after dark when he had his tea and supper together which I found for him. Before he went out he said he must go to the Midland Station to tell them he had got lodgings. He slept in my house that night. He went to bed about 10 o’clock. He asked me to call him at 6.30 in the morning. In the morning I packed him up a piece of bread ¾ lb of beef steak and apple pie and some butter he took the food away with him. I have never seen him since till this morning. I value the food at 2/- and the nights lodgings /4d I did not ask him for payment because he said the night before he should be back to tea at 7.15 and I got his tea ready at that time. This Deponent Alfred Sharman Palmer sworn I am Chief Clerk at the Goods Department of the Midland Railway at Bedford. I have been there for 10 years. The prisoner has never been employed there and I have never seen him before. He could not be employed there without my knowledge. This Deponent Mary Ann Summerfield I am the wife of Frederick Summerfield and live at Cardington. On Friday the 14th inst. About 8 o’clock in the morning the prisoner came to my house. He asked for lodgings I said “Are you going to work about here?” He said “Yes up at the station” He said “I shall be there for 5 years at the least. I am going to help in the booking office and the booking hall I have been for the company 11 years and only had two lodgings. I have been at the last lodging 6 years” I said “come in then” He came in sat down and had his breakfast which he brought with him. He stopped the day. I found him bread and butter and jam and some tea for his tea. He lodged the night at my house. Before he went to bed he said “Call me at 6.30 in the morning I must be on duty at 5 minutes to 7” In the morning he had some bread and butter and a cup of tea before he went. He said “send my breakfast up to the station between 8 and 9 I shall not be allowed to come home” I did so. I have never seen him till today. I value the food I let him have at /8d and the nights lodging /4d. John Gammons sworn I am Station Master at Cardington. The prisoner has never been employed at Cardington Station. On the 15th inst. I saw the prisoner at the Station but he did not speak to anyone. Thomas Dennis sworn I am a police constable stationed at Bedford. About 12.30 p.m. yesterday I apprehended prisoner at Woburn on a Warrant I read the Warrant marked “A” to him. He said “I am guilty of that charge I go to these places and falsely represent myself because I’ve got no work” Warrant for Apprehension of Defendant in the first instance. In the County of Bedford, Petty Sessional Division of Bedford To each and all of the Constables of the County of Bedford. Information on Oath has been this day by Kate Truman the wife of Louis Truman of Eastcotts in the County aforesaid, that a certain man whose name (except Albert) is not known but the description of whose person is stated in the margin hereof* (hereinafter called the Defendant), on the Thirteenth day of October One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight at Eastcotts in the County aforesaid unlawfully and knowingly by certain false pretence did obtain of and from ‘Kate’ Trueman a certain quantity of food together of the value of Two Shillings the goods and chattels of Louis Trueman with intent to defraud contrary to the statute. You are therefore hereby commanded to bring the Defendant before the Court of Summary Jurisdiction sitting at the Shire Hall, at Bedford in the county of Bedford, forthwith, to answer to the said Information. Dated the Nineteenth day of October One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight * Description; Height, 5 feet 4 or 5 inches; Colour of Hair, Light Brown; Age, 21 to 24; Complexion, fair; Dress, Black Coat and vest, brown mixture trousers and grey cap; Clean shaved except small light moustache. Statement of Accused: I have nothing to say.

8 pages

item

Trueman, Kate,
Trueman, Louis,
Palmer, Alfred Sharman,
Summerfield, Mary Ann,
Summerfield, Frederick,
Gammons, John,
Dennis, Thomas,
Wilson, Albert

EASTCOTTS, Midland Railway Company, BEDFORD, CARDINGTON, clerk, station master, police constable, fraud, false pretences