QSR1839/1/5/32-33

Depositions and examination - James Whitbey for robbery and John Swepson for receiving stolen goods

14 December 1838

From: 1838 To: 1838

Joseph Mead of Edlesborough (Bucks) - on Tuesday evening 27th November he was on a pony in Billington Lane at 10 past 5 returning from Leighton Market, when 4 men seized him and his horse, dragged him off his horse, tore his clothes open and picked his pockets. They took his purse containing a £5 Bank of England note, one sovereign, two or three half sovereigns, one half crown and he thinks two sixpences. Also a silver watch, a knife, three memorandum books and some bills and papers. They ran into Billington Mead. Two of the men who robbed him, Samuel Jones and Thomas Ball, have already been committed. James Whitbey was apprehended at Uxbridge and is one of the four men who robbed him. From information received he obtained a search warrant and this morning with the constable of Ampthill searched the house of John Swepson who keeps a lodging house at Maulden. He found Swepson and his wife at breakfast. They denied knowing where his property was. After he threatened her Swepson's wife showed him a £5 Bank of England note which she took out of something on a shelf. Both Swepson and his wife denied Mead's watch was on the premises. After more threats Swepson said he would show them where it was. Swepson went out of the house with Savage the constable and came back with the watch, which is the one stolen from him. On Thursday November 29 he went to that house as two of the other men had been taken there. Swepson's wife denied knowing anything about his property. He described his watch to her and told her that if it was found on the premises and she let Savage know she would be well rewarded. Robert Savage, constable of Ampthill - went with Mead to Swepson's house. Swepson said the watch was not in his house but he knew where it was. Swepson went with him to a building about 10 yards off which he believes is his property. When they got there said "The watch should be up here if its where I put it". He put his hand into the thatch and took out a watch. Samuel Meadows, retailer of beer in Woburn - on Tuesday night 28 November 4 men came to lodge at his house. The prisoner is one of them. He changed a half sovereign. They left the following morning. Jesse Cripps, publican at Edlesborough (Bucks) - on 27 November 4 men called at his house and had pints of ale - one of them is the prisoner. They said they were waiting for a crockery cart. The left about 3.30. Billington Lane is about 4 miles from his house. No crockery cart came. James Whitbey - said "I was not there and no where nigh" John Swepson - said he found the watch in his barn and put it in the thatch until it was asked for.

item

Mead, Joseph,
Whitbey, James,
Swepson, John,
Savage, Robert,
Meadows, Samuel,
Cripps, Jesse

AMPTHILL, MAULDEN, Edlesborough, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Billington Lane, WOBURN, markets, stealing, money, watches, lodging houses, beer retailer, publican