QSR1876/1/5/5

Depositions and examination - Elizabeth Duncombe, wife of Charles Duncombe the elder of Waddesden, labourer, charged with receiving from Charles Duncombe the younger on 13 October 1875 at Leighton Buzzard one gold whistle and one gold locket and gold ring attached belonging to Joseph Spiers knowing them to be stolen

16 November 1875

From: 1875 To: 1876

Joseph Spiers of Leighton Buzzard, silversmith – about 2 months ago while Charles Duncombe the younger was in his employ he missed sundry articles of jewellery, total value £21. Most of the articles were in his shop window and some in a writing desk which was unlocked. The gold whistle and gold locket with ring attached produced were some of the articles he lost. Charles Duncombe the younger has been committed to trial for stealing the articles. [Cross-examined] The whistle was not dented as it is now when he lost it. Whistles are sometimes made of base metal. The chain produced is not his and is not gold. Mrs Duncombe or one in her position might not know whether the article was gold or not. William Shepherd, superintendent of police for Leighton Buzzard division - on 28 October he went to Waddesdon and found Elizabeth Duncombe who was then living there under the name of Cooper. She had been living at Leighton Buzzard. He asked if her name was Duncombe and she said it was. He asked if her son Charles was in the house. She said “no, he is out at play”. He then asked her to look for him. She went out and said she could not find him. He said he understood Charles Duncombe had gone to the works with his father’s dinner. She did not reply. He went to the works and shortly afterwards Charles Duncombe came home. He told Duncombe he had come to see him about the watches, gold whistle, gold lockets and other things he had stolen from his master Mr Spiers. Duncombe said the only watch he had was one of his father’s. He told Elizabeth Duncombe her son was charged with stealing the things and as one was a gold whistle he believed her son had it with him. She said she had not seen it. He then went to a back place on the premises to search. He was informed Duncombe had gone upstairs and went after her. He found her sitting on the bed close to a box in which baby linen was. She said he might search. He did so but did not find anything. [Cross-examined] Elizabeth Duncombe turned out her boxes in his presence. She told her son whatever he had to say to tell the truth about it. James Courtney of Waddesdon (Bucks), police constable – on 28 October he was with Supt. Shepherd at the prisoner’s house. Shepherd told her he had come to see her boy regarding some watches, gold watchguards, a gold whistle and other articles. She said she was sure her boy bought nothing of the kind there. He was left in charge of Charles Duncombe while Shepherd went to search the house. While he was searching the back way Elizabeth Duncombe went upstairs. He called the Supt. Who went upstairs. Elizabeth Duncombe told the boy to speak the truth. On 29 October, the next day, he went to the house again. He told Elizabeth Duncombe he had come for the gild whistle she had in her possession. She handed to him at once the gold whistle, locket and ring and chain attached produced. She took them off a table standing in the room. She wanted to take the chain, saying “that don’t belong to them”. [Cross-examined] Elizabeth Duncombe did not appear to take the articles from any place of concealment. She had her back to him. He cannot say whether it was under anything or not. She said she did not know the value of it and had given it to the children to play with. She pointed out the dent in the whistle which she said had been made by the children. She said her son brought the whistle home. [2nd Cross-examination] On the first day she said she knew nothing about the whistle and locket. He knew her by the name of Cooper. Her husband has been known for 6 weeks past by the name of Cooper. Elizabeth Duncombe – she does not wish to say anything.

item

Duncombe, Charles,
Spiers, Joseph,
Duncombe, Elizabeth,
Shepherd, William,
Courtney, James

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Waddesdon, receiving stolen goods, jewellery, gold, silversmiths, police constable, police superintendent