The four prisoners were brought up yesterday afternoon at the Wellingborough Police Court, the Magistrate present being Alderman C. J. K. Woolston.

Thomas Eaton (drayman), Frederick Evans (goods checker), and Israel Meadows (yard clerk), all in the employ of the Midland Railway Company, were charged with stealing a quantity of goods within the last three months, the property of the company; and Ebenezer Cox, general dealer, High-street, was charged with receiving the goods knowing them to have been stolen.

The specific charge against Evans and Eaton was that, on or about Aug. 12th, they stole 8 dozen kid skins, of the value of £13/1/5, the property of the M.R. Co.

Meadows was accused of stealing a pair of boots.

Cox was accused of having received the goods, knowing them to have been stolen.

Mr. J. C. Parker (Messrs. J. T. Parker and Son, solicitors, Wellingborough) represented the prisoner Meadows.

Superintendent Palmer, who represented the M.R. Co., said :

For some long time past there have been robberies in the goods department at the Midland Railway Company’s station at Rushden. Consequently inquiries were set on foot by the Midland Railway police in conjunction with the county constabulary. Cox, a general dealer, keeps a shop in the High-street, Rushden, and Eaton, Evens, and Meadows are in the employ of the Midland Railway Co. On Aug. 10th a parcel containing 8 dozen kid skins was sent from London to Rushden, and were checked in as having arrived at Rushden station; but when they were wanted for delivery next day the parcel was missing. Cox had sold a number of skins to a shoe manufacturing firm in Rushden. The skins had since been identified as those sent from London. On Wednesday, Sept, 21, Inspector Bailey saw Cox, and explained to him that the skins had been stolen. Cox told the officer that the skins he had sold had been brought in London about a month ago. He was questioned about prisoner Eaton, when he said he had bought one or two things from him at different times. Cox was arrested and detained at Rushden Police Station.

Meadows, Eaton, and Evans were arrested afterwards, and their houses searched. A pair of boots was found at the house of Meadows, who said the boots had been sent to him by Evans for money which he owed him. The boots were concealed between the ceiling and the roof of the house.

At Eaton’s house there were found two pairs of boots, which he said had been stolen from the Bristol wagon about two months ago.

At Evans’s house one pair of boots was found, which he said he had bought from Cox. All four were charged at the Rushden Police Station on Wednesday night. Meadows said that Evans sent the boots by a little girl about a month ago, as he owed him some money, and still owed him about 5s. He added, “I know I had no business to have them. I know they were stolen. I put them up so that my wife should not see them. Evans can prove that he sent the shoes to my house.” Evans said, “Yes.” Meadows further said, “Can Mr. Cox say I have been to his place to sell anything?” Eaton said, “All I can say is I have been up there (to Cox’s place) and have took things. Me and Freddy Evans have been halving it.” Cox made no reply.

Evidence was given by Inspector Bailey, of Rushden, who deposed:

On Wednesday, September 21st, I arrested the prisoner Cox at his shop in High-street, Rushden, and told him I was making inquiries with regard to some glacé kid skins which were missing from the Midland Railway station at Rushden on August 11th. I asked Cox if he wished to give any account of the matter. He said that on August 12th he had sold to a Rushden shoe manufacturer some skins which he had bought in London a month before.

Superintendent Palmer applied for a remand until Friday, September 30th, and this was granted by Ald. Woolston.

On behalf of Meadows, Mr. Parker applied for bail, and said that at present there was no evidence against him.

Inspector Bailey said that the case for the M.R. Co. was not yet completed, and at that stage he should oppose the application of Mr. Parker for bail.

The magistrate refused to allow bail in the case of any of the four prisoners.

7th October, 1910

At a special sitting of the Wellingborough Bench of Magistrates on Tuesday several charges of robbery from the Midland Railway Company’s goods yard at Rushden were inquired into, very keen interest being taken in the cases by the general public. The Justices present were Alderman C. J. K. Woolston and Mr. Fred Knight. The prisoners were :-

Thomas Eaton, carman in the employ of the M.R. Co. at Rushden.

Frederick William Evans, checker in the employ of the M.R. Co. at Rushden.

Israel Meadows, yard clerk in the employ of the M.R. Co. at Rushden.

Ebenezer Cox, general dealer, High-street, Rushden.

There were four separate charges.

Mr. R. J. Turner (Messrs. Beale and Co., solicitors, Birmingham) appeared for the Midland Railway Co., and he was accompanied by Major Henderson, of the Midland Railway Co.’s Police.

Mr. J. Cairns Parker defended Cox, Meadows, and Evans.

Eaton and Evans were charged with larceny from the Midland Railway Co. by stealing eight dozen glacé kid skins, value £13/19/5, at Rushden on August 11, and Cox was charged with receiving the skins, well knowing them to have been stolen.

Mr. R. J. Turner, opening the case for the prosecution, said the men were arrested on September 23rd. The man Cox was a general dealer, of Rushden, and his business seemed to be dealing with everything, and asking no questions as to where the property came from. Evans was a goods checker, and his business was that of a foreman, which was to supervise the men under him, and to take care that there was no misdealing or improper dealing with the goods. Eaton was a carman in the employ of the Midland Railway, and it was his duty to take the goods from the station. The suggestion of the prosecution was that Eaton and Evans had

placed in them by the Midland Railway Co., Evans by abstracting the parcels from the vehicles and improperly placing them on Eaton’s dray, and Eaton by delivering them to Cox instead of the proper consignee, Cox selling them to traders in the Rushden district. The first charge, on the 11th of August, was for stealing eight dozen glace kid skins, which were sent from London to a boot manufacturer at Rushden by the Midland Railway. Evans dealt with the railway invoices relating to goods as they arrived at Rushden, and they would hear that, shortly after, the consignee reported that the goods were not delivered, and they were booked up as

There was also a similar charge which occurred within the same six months, and was that of stealing four chrome leather hides, which had been consigned on September 12th from Rushden to Northampton, and although there was no evidence, they would here that Cox dealt with those things, and that the same skins never went any further than Rushden.

Archibald Tame, clerk in the employ of Messrs. Steinfield and Co., St. Thomas-street, London, said : On Aug. 10th I made up a parcel of 8 dozen glace kid skins. They were addressed to W. Green and Sons, boot manufacturers, Rushden, and were handed to the M.R. carman the same day. The four skins produced were part of the consignment. The invoice value of the consignment was £13/1/4. Our firm is the sole agent for this make of skin. We have never done any business with the prisoner Cox.

By Mr. J. C. Parker : There would be a great quantity of parcels of

sent off that day.

Witness: I would identify them by the trade mark.

Mr. Parker : Similar skins would be similarly marked?

Witness : Yes.

Then you can identify these except in a general way? – I identify them by figures on them, also by the substance, weight, and quality.

Henry Runsell, a carman in the employ of the M.R. Co. at Bermondsey, said : On Aug. 10th I received a consignment of skins from Messrs. Steinfield and Co. and took them in my van to Somers Town Station. I recall the transaction by the consignment note produced. The parcel was addressed to William Green and Sons, Rushden.

Edwin Wm. Lewis, checker at Somers Town station, said : On Aug. 10th I loaded a consignment of leather from Steinfield and Co. to Wm. Green and Sons, Rushden, in the van No. 8679.

Jabez Wilkins, foreman at the M.R. goods station, Rushden, said : Eaton is a carman at the station and Evans is a checker at the goods yard. On Aug. 11 van No. 8679 arrived from London at Rushden station about 7.40 a.m., laden with goods. It was Evans’s duty to supervise the unloading of the van that morning. I know his handwriting. The entry on the form produced is in

It relates to a consignment of leather from Steinfield and Co., addressed to Wm. Green and Sons, Rushden, and the entry in Evan’s handwriting is “Not received.” Eaton was the carman on duty that morning.

George Albert Porter, 33, Kings-road, Rushden, clerk in the employ of Messrs. Wm. Green and Sons, Rushden, said : On Aug. 11th we expected a consignment of glacé kid skins from Steinfield and co. We received the invoice but never received the goods.

Joseph Knight, jun., boot manufacturer, of Rushden, deposed : The Prisoner Cox, is a general dealer at Rushden. I bought the four glacé skins produced from Cox, on Aug. 12th. There were 436 feet of skins, somewhere about 8 dozen. I paid him 5d a foot, £9/1/8 in all.

The rest of the skins I have made up. I had no conversation with him as to where he got the skins.

Ald. Woolston : You bought the skins at 5d per foot. What was the market value?

Witness : I cannot say, I am afraid.

The witness Tame said the value was 7d per foot.

The three prisoners were committed for trial at the Assizes.

Eaton and Evans were then charged with stealing four brown hides, value 28/-, the property of the M.R. Co., at Rushden, on September 12th.

George Barker, of Barker and Co., leather dressers, of Northampton,, said : On September 10th I made up a parcel of four brown chrome hides and addressed them to Charles Parker, boot manufacturer, Higham Ferrers. I sent the parcel by the M.R. Co., the same day. The three hides and the portion of another one (produced) were in the consignment. The total value was 28/-. I have never had any business dealings with the prisoner Cox.

By Mr. Parker : The parcel was sent to Higham Ferrers.

Mr. Parker : How do you identify these hides?

Witness : By the stock number. The hides belong to Mr. Parker, and we dressed them. The same stock number appears on each hide from Mr. Parker. These four skins were sent on in front of the others as they were urgent.

Re-examined : No other customer would have the same stock number.

By the Bench : No one else has had similar leather with the same number on it.

Charles Reeson, checker in the employ of the M.R. Co. at Northampton, said : On September 10th I received from Barker and Co. a consignment of leather addressed to Charles Parker, Higham Ferrers. I loaded it to Rushden station.

Jacob Wilkins, M.R. foreman at Rushden, said : On September 12th it was my duty to deal with

from Northampton to Higham Ferrers. On referring to the railway invoice I could not find a parcel of leather consigned by Barker and Co., Northampton, addressed to Charles Parker, Higham Ferrers. Evans and Eaton were both at work all day in the yard. Both had been at that particular wagon that morning before me.

By Mr. J. C. Parker : It was possible for other men to go to the wagon besides Eaton and Evans.

Edwin Parker, cashier in the employ of Mr. Charles Parker, boot manufacturer, Higham Ferrers, said : On September 11th I received an invoice of hides from Barker and Co., Northampton. The goods have never come to hand. They were our skins, sent to Northampton to be dressed. These particular four were wanted urgently. They formed part of

and we have not had the others yet.

Thomas T. Clarke, boot manufacturer, Wentworth-road, Rushden, said : I know the prisoner Cox. The two pairs of skins produced I bought from Cox somewhere between September 12th and 17th. I could not say the exact date. I paid him £1/5/8 for 44 feet, and have used part of one of the skins.

Inspector Bailey, stationed at Rushden, stated : On September 21st I saw the prisoner Cox in his shop at Rushden. Supt. Palmer, of the M.R. police force and two other officers were with me. I told Cox I was making inquiries respecting some glacé kid skins which were missing from the M.R. goods department at Rushden since about August 11th last, and that I suspected he knew something about them. I cautioned him. He said : I know nothing about them. The only skins I have bought at Rushden was about six weeks or two months ago, from Tuffery’s, and those I sold to T.T. Clarke, of Rushden.” I told him

his statement and asked him whether he chose to give any account of some glacé kid skins which he sold to Mr. Joseph Knight, of Rushden, about August 12th. He said “I believe I did sell Joseph Knight some about that time. I bought them off Fryer and Cooper, of London. I am certain I have never bought any skins from anyone in Rushden except Tuffery’s.” I said to him, “Do you know a man named Thomas Eaton, a Midland Railway drayman?” He then said, “I will tell you the truth. I bought those I sold to Joseph Knight from Eaton about the time you mention. It was a big lot. I don’t know how much I paid for them. I know it was over £3. I offered Joseph Knight some more skins which I bought from Eaton about six weeks ago, but he would not have them. I believe there was a dozen in that lot. I offered them at 5d. or 5½d a foot. I believe I have bought a dozen pairs of boots from Eaton at different times since I came here in March, and have paid him

for them, but I have sold them all, and I can’t say to whom I sold them. I also bought a bale of splits from him about two or three months ago. I believe I sold them to Claridge and Noble, of Moor-road, Rushden, for 8d. a lb. I bought 4 doz. glacé kid skins from Eaton the week before last, and gave his £2 for them. I sold them either to Joseph Knight or T.T. Clarke for 5½d. a foot. They came to about 60 feet a dozen.” Prisoner was then arrested and taken to the police-station. Shortly after, on the same day, the other two prisoners were brought to the police-station, and other charges were preferred against them. The following day the prisoner Eaton volunteered a statement to me at the lock-up. He said, “When I get out of this row

I don’t get in anything like it again. This game has been going on for about four months. I have taken skins –two or three at a time on several occasions, and I believe four large parcels – three of skins and one of splits. The biggest parcel of skins I took was about the end of July or the beginning of August.”

Detective Supt. Palmer, of the M.R. Police, said : On September 21, when the three prisoners were in custody, I charged Evans and Eaton with stealing eight dozen glacé skins from Rushden station on August 11. The three prisoners were all together. I charged Cox with receiving the same. Evans said “Can Mr. Cox say I have been there to sell anything?” Cox said “No.” Eaton said, “All I can say is that I have been up there to Cox’s place and have took things. Me and Fred Evans have been halving it.” Evans heard that statement and made no reply, nor did Cox make any answer. Evans was transferred to Rushden on June 30, 1902. He was previously in the service of the Company at Leicester. His wages are

and bonus. Eaton joined the service at Rushden on August 11, 1899. His wages are 20/- a week. They are both married men.

This was the case for the prosecution.

Mr. J. C. Parker did not offer any evidence for Evans and Cox.

Eaton, who was not represented, had nothing to say in answer to the charge and did not call any witnesses.

All three prisoners were committed for trial at the Assizes.

Mr. Parker applied for bail for Cox, and the Bench consented, himself in £100 and two sureties in £50 each.

Meadows and Evans were then charged with stealing one pair of shoes, value 10/6, the property of the M.R. Co., at Rushden on September 8.

Christopher John Newton, secretary to Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., boot manufacturers, of Rushden, deposed : On Aug. 23rd I forwarded 30 pairs of boots and shoes in a wooden case by the M.R. Co. to a customer of ours named Smith, of Dundee. On Sept. 6th the case was returned to us and some of the shoes. When the parcel was unpacked one pair of glacé kid shoes and two odd shoes were missing, and the case presented the appearance of having been tampered with. The glacé kid shoes produced were part of the consignment. They had never been worn. There is one ticket number inside, and our books show that the pair was sent out to Smith.

would get shoes with that number.

Mr. Parker : Did you inspect the box before it was opened? – Witness : No.

Did you see it before it was unpacked? – No.

Then how can you say it had been tampered with? – Because the case was broken.

Most cases are broken open? – This was broken open at the side: it was signed for as having been tampered with before it was opened.

Henry Pitt, M.R. Station-master at Rushden, said : Meadows is a yard clerk and the other man is a goods checker. They were both on duty at the goods shed on Sept. 6th. It was Evans’s duty to check off a case of goods arriving from Dundee and consigned to Cave and Sons.

Thomas Stapleton, goods porter at the Rushden M.R. Station, said : On September 6th I can recollect receiving this box of boots from Dundee for Cave and Sons. It was

when I got it out of the wagon. Both the prisoners were on duty on that day. Meadows is a yard clerk.

Mr. Parker : Do you remember seeing Evans in the goods shed that day? – Witness : Yes.

Do you remember having a conversation with him in respect to a pair of shoes? – No.

Did you say to Evans, “Here’s a pair of boots I’ve found in an empty case, which would just suit you”? – No.

Are you quite certain. – Quite.

John Moffatt, M.R. Police Inspector, said : On September 20th I arrestd Meadows and told him I was making inquiries respecting some boots which were missing from Rushden station. He said, “I don’t know anything about the boots. You can search my house.” In company with Supt. Pa;mer, I took Meadows to his house. On the way there Meadows said “I have never taken anything myself. I know Evans and Eaton have been taking parcels from the goods shed at Rushden station. I have seen Eaton take the parcels on the dray and have spoken to him. I told him he

On searching the house we found a trap-door on the landing, leading to the ceiling – a false roof between the roof and the ceiling. There I found the pair of shoes produced, wrapped in brown paper. I took them into the bed-room to Meadows and asked him what he knew about the shoes. He replied “I know nothing whatever about them. I never saw the boots before till now.” I told him he would be charged with stealing them. He said : “I may as well tell you the truth. Evans sent his little girl to my house with them about six weeks ago. He owed me some money. He now owes me 5/-. I knew they were stolen, and hid them away so that the wife could not see them.” On again looking on the landing I saw these pieces of packing paper, which have evidently contained boots.

Mr. Parker : NO, no! That is

Witness : Meadows was taken to the police station and charged. He said to Evans, “You sent those shoes to my house, didn’t you, Fred?” Evans said “Yes.”

Mr. Parker : Meadows gave you every assistance in searching the premises? Witness : He did not show us the shoes in the ceiling.

Both prisoners were committed to the Assizes and were admitted to bail – themselves in £20 and two sureties in £10 each.

Thomas Eaton was then charged with stealing one pair of boots, value 12/6, at Rushden on September 8th, the property of the M.R. Co.

Francis Thomas Pashler, of 150, Cromwell-road, Rushden, packer for Messrs. E. Claridge and Sons, Rushden, said : On September 8th I packed 38 pairs of boots in a case and addressed them to Goldie and Sons, of Northampton. The pair of boots produced was manufactured by our firm.

Henry Pitt, station-master at Rushden, deposed : Prisoner is a drayman at Rushden station. He was on duty on September 8th.

James Gough, M.R. checker at Northampton, said : I received the consignment of goods for Goldie and Sons, and sent them on for delivery.

Reuben Adams, packer in the employ of Messrs. Goldie and Sons, Northampton, said : On September 9th the M.R. Co. delivered to us a case of boots from Messrs. E. Claridge and Sons, of Rushden. They were apparently in good condition. I checked the contents of the case with the invoice and found only 36 pairs,

William Mayes, detective in the employ of the M.R. Co. at Bedford, said: I arrested prisoner and said we were making inquiries respecting goods stolen from the goods shed at Rushden. I told him he was suspected of taking some of them. He said “I know nothing about them. I have never taken anything away. You are welcome to search my house.” I searched his house, and in a cupboard of the kitchen I found the pair of boots produced, also a pair of brown boots which have not been identified. I asked him where he got them from, and he said “That’s all I’ve got. I got them from the Bristol wagon.” I arrested him.

Prisoner said he found the boots in an empty box on the ground outside the goods shed.

Prisoner was committed for trial at the Assizes, bail being allowed, himself in £20 and two sureties in £10.

Each prisoner therefore was committed to the Assizes, and bail was allowed in each case.