Reference
QSR1821/307-310
Title
Examinations and Depositions: Examinations of Thomas Flint, John Travell, William Beech, James Stapleton, Charles Goode, William Tims and Cornelius Abrahams.
Date free text
1821
Production date
From: 1821 To: 1821
Scope and Content
Examination of Thomas Flint, Ampthill, tailor. He heard a noise in his shop and on going in saw someone outside the window. Going out he heard some one running and followed, he caught him and found various articles of clothing "under his feet". Mr. John Travell helped him to take William Tims into custody. When he returned to his shop he found several articles missing and within a few minutes several people brought back various articles they had found, he also found a "strange stick" in his shop.Examination of John Travell, Ampthill, plumber. Hearing a noise in the street he saw Flint holding Tims and on his request he assisted in detaining him, there were several articles near his feet. A piece of cloth which he picked up he gave to William Beech. Timms said his father would clear him and John Travell let him go to see his father.Examination of William Beech, Ampthill, gardener, who heard Thomas Flint call out and also saw the articles of clothing.Examination of James Stapleton, Ampthill, shoemaker, Passing along the street he saw a basket which contained clothing and a hat. There was a crowd of people outside Flint's shop and he asked them if any one recognised the basket, but no one knew; whereupon he observed that he thought that it belonged to a man that had "been carrying Cement about the Town", he then continued on his way home taking the basket with him. He afterwards went back to the shop and saw a man pulling off his clothes wanting to fight, he advised him to put them back on or he would lose the money out of his pockets. The man was Cornelius Abraham and said he came from Hartford "near Huntingdon". Stapleton asked him if he had lost a stick Abraham said he had and should give him a pint of beer if he would find it, he took him to Flint's shop where Abraham claimed the stick. Flint then went with him to his house where he showed him the basket and hat, the hat he identified as his property.Information of Charles Goode, Ampthill, constable. Cornelius Abraham was delivered into his custody by Thomas Flint and put into the cage for the night. Next morning on opening the door, he asked about the basket, which he, the constable, told him was in Mr. Green's house, The Crown and Sceptre. Being shown the basket and contents, together with the stick he claimed them as his property.Examination of William Tims who said he left his shop earlier in the evening "to gather Turnip Tops" and on returning called in at his father's home. Coming down the street after leaving his father he met a man with some clothes and as he approached him he dropped them. Tims drew "back against Mr. Morris' pallisades" and the man walked away and Mr. Flint came up and took him into custody. He asked Mr. Flint to let him pursue the man that had passed but Mr. Flint refused. Asked whether he had ever seen the prisoner Abrahams before, Tims replied that although the person carrying the clothes was about the same size it was too dark to identify him.Examination of Cornelius Abrahams, who said he had been drinking in the Cross Keys in the afternoon and came out about eight o'clock very drunk, the air had such an effect on him "he recollects notheing".
Reference
Level of description
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