Northamptonshire Assizes

The Rushden Railway Thefts

Mr. Justice Bucknill on Monday morning opened the Northamptonshire Assizes and concluded the Court on Tuesday.

The Grand Jury included Sir Arthur de Capell brooke (foreman), Mr. Enos Smith, Raunds; Mr. F. Knight, Rushden; Mr. A. H. Sartoris, Weekley; Mr. Owen Parker, Higham Ferrers; and Mr. R. P. Payne, Irthlingborough.

The calendar contained the names of 17 prisoners, indicted for 33 offences. His Lordship, in charging the Grand Jury, said the case of stack-firing was unfortunately the fourth or fifth he had inquired into in this part of England. That class of crime seemed to be increasing.

Rushden Railway Thefts

Thomas Eaton (33), carman, Frederick William Evans (35), porter, and Ebenezer Cox (66) dealer, were charged with stealing and receiving four brown chrome hides, the property of the Midland Railway Co. at Rushden, on Sept. 12.

Prisoners were further charged with stealing and receiving eight dozen of glacé kid skins, the property of the Midland Railway Co. at Rushden, on August 11.

Thomas Eaton was further charged with stealing one pair of boots belonging to the Company.

Frederick William Evans and Israel Meadows (27) clerk, were charged with stealing a pair of shoes, the goods of the Midland Railway Company.

Mr. Ryland Adkins prosecuting; Mr. Campion appeared for Cox, and Mr. Poyser for Meadows.

Eaton and Cox pleaded guilty to both charges; Evans pleaded guilty to stealing the glacé kid, but not the hides; Meadows pleaded guilty to receiving the boots.

Mr. Adkins said that for some time past at Rushden a considerable amount of leather consigned to manufacturers through the Midland Railway had disappeared. As regards Cox, he received considerable quantities of leather, and, of course, must have known that employees of the Railway Company were not persons who ought to deal in pounds’ worth of leather. Mr. Adkins pointed out the gravity of the offences, and said there must be security for the transmission of goods.

Supt. Palmer, of the Midland Railway Police, said that since last December 39 instances of missing goods had been reported, the total value being nearly £100. Since prisoners had been arrested the losses had entirely ceased. The smallest amount stolen was valued at 7s 5d. and the largest £9 1s.

Insp. Bailey of the County Police, stationed at Rushden, said Meadows, Eaton, and Evans had all borne previous good characters. They were employees of the Railway Company, earning between £1 and 30s. a week. Cox, who was a general dealer, the police had looked upon as receiver of property unlawfully obtained, but there had been no convictions against him.

Mr. Campion and Mr. Poyser made earnest pleas on behalf of their clients.

On behalf of Meadows, it was urged that he had a wife and two children.

His Lordship remarked that he could not imagine why the men did not think of their wives and dear little children before they committed such acts. They were the ones who suffered. The Judge pronounced the following sentences:- Cox, twelve months’ hard labour; Eaton, six months’ hard labour; Evans, six months’ hard labour; Meadows, three months’ hard labour.

His Lordship said he thought Cox was at the bottom of the affair, and had no doubt provided the temptation to the others, because he was the receiver of the stolen property. He was an old man, and he ought to have known better. He must be punished for himself and to act as a deterrent to others.