Robbing an Employer: John Burden, a labourer, in the employ of Mr. George Sanders, corn dealer, was remanded from the previous Thursday on a charge of stealing bag, valued 2s, and four pecks beans, valued at 6s, the property of his master. Prosecutor stated that the prisoner had worked for him for about three years, and during that time he had access over his premises. The previous Wednesday night Mr. Pinsent sent a man for two niches of reed, which were kept in a loft of which he kept the keys. On going to the loft, he found the door unlocked and something behind it that prevented it being opened; getting his hand in, he found a sack partly filled with what he subsequently found to be beans, similar to what he had in bulk. His name was on the sack. He did not say anything to Mr. Pinsent’s man about it but closed the door as he found it and communicated with the police. P. C. Endacott said he watched the prosecutor’s premises on the night in question, and about half-past seven the following morning he saw the prisoner open the door of the stores and take there from a bag containing something which he was carrying off, when a witness stopped him and asked what he had in the bag. Not giving a satisfactory answer, the witness charged him with stealing the bag and its contents and took him custody. Mr. Creed appeared for the defendant, and said he was instructed that the beans were for his master’s horses, and he was only carrying them to the stable when the policeman pounced upon him, although the officer in cross examination had said he was 20 feet beyond going in the direction at Queen-street. To act as he did, he must either have been mad, or wanted to be sent to gaol. He was committed for trial but admitted to bail.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901 (?)