QSR1834/2/5/9

John Brunt, farmer of Marston Moretaine. Edward Odell, farmer of Cranfield. In the case of John King accused of obtaining money by false pretences.

24 March 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

John Brunt: about 3pm or 4pm yesterday afternoon he was attending a vestry meeting in Marston Moretaine. The prisoner came into the vestry room and showed a paper representing that a fire had taken place at Broom and that all of his father’s property had been destroyed. The prisoner said his father’s name was Thomas Jackson and that the fire had taken place on the 10 February and that all his father’s property was consumed. The prisoner said he was going round to collect money for his father on account of the loss. The prisoner also said his father was a baker at Broom. He told him it was very strange and that he had not heard of a fire at Broom having come through the place that morning and that he went through twice a week. The prisoner replied that it was very strange that he had not heard of it. He was sure a fire could not have taken place without his knowledge. When the prisoner first came into the room he asked them to give something on account of his father’s loss. He felt sure he was attempting to impose and none of them gave the prisoner anything. He knew Broom well and he did not thing there was a baker living there or any person names Jackson carrying on trade. Edward Odell: the person in custody who now said his name was John King called at his house at Cranfield about 2pm. The prisoner said he had come to collect some money for a fire which had happened at Broom to his father Thomas Jackson. He asked the prisoner if he had a petition with him or something to show the nature of it. The prisoner produced the paper which Odell now had. It showed the name of T Taylor signed to it as Churchwarden and knowing Mr Taylor to be a respectable man at Broom, he believed the statement in the paper. The prisoner represented that his father’s property had amounted to £600 and had been destroyed by fire in February. In consequence he gave the prisoner a shilling. The prisoner produced a book which he claimed contained the name of the persons who had given him money. He knew the handwriting of several people whose names were in the book. He remarked that his father ought to have insured his property and the prisoner said his that his father had a large family and was too poor to pay the insurance. The prisoner asked him to write his name in the book but he did not as he was in a hurry. The prisoner said he was himself in business in Broom and he believed he said he was a baker. Statement of accused: he knew he was guilty of the charge and the truth was best to be spoken. He was taken in by a young man. He was in distress. He was in a lodging house in Northampton the previous week and he met with a man there. He was a baker by trade and so was the young man. They talked about trade and the man said he had been in Badford’s line by a fire. The man said his name was Jackson and if he would go with him he would get him a little money. The man showed him a petition and book and most of the name were in the book before he saw it. John Arnold was the name of the first person who put down his name on King begging him. Jackson did not tell him it was an imposition. When they got to the village Jackson told him to go and call on people with the petition as he had been before and would be known. He gave Jackson all the money he got. He got about 11 or 12 shillings. It was all done the previous day. Jackson pointed out the houses which he was to call at. His name was John King and he was a native of Scotland.

item

King, John,
Brunt, John,
Odell, Edward,
Arnold, John,
Jackson, Thomas,
Taylor, T.

MARSTON MORETAINE, CRANFIELD, Broom, baker, false pretences, farmer