QSR1839/4/5/8-9/a

Depositions of Henry Bolton, Bartlett Powers, William Coombs and Michael Headon - Thomas Valentine charged with receiving a quantity of boots and shoes, the property of Henry Bolton, knowing them to be stolen. The witness Frederick Diemer was ultimately committed as a principal.

12 August 1839

From: 1839 To: 1839

Henry Bolton of Bedford, currier and shoemaker - Thomas Valentine was employed by him for 8 or 10 years until last April to work up leather into shoes for him, as a home worker paid by the piece. In May Valentine asked him to supply him with shoes to go hawking as he did Thomas Munsey. He did so until about 5 or 6 weeks ago. Due to circumstances that came to his knowledge he then refused to let Valentine have any more unless the money was paid for them at the time he took the goods. On these terms Valentine took three parcels of goods, the last 3 weeks ago. Last Friday and Saturday he received information that he had been robbed. He went to the Chequers Public House in the High Street, St Paul's Bedford and saw Valentine with 2 bundles in a baize bag and another in a handkerchief. In the handkerchief he found 3 pairs of new shoes - he is sure they were his and were in his shop within the last fortnight and he had not sold them. He left the contents of the bundle and bag with Powers the constable and went to the magistrates for a warrant to search Valentine's house. He and Coombs searched the premises and found 3 pairs of upper leathers closed, bound and lined ready to make up, and a large quantity of lasts, all of which he believes to be his property. The upper leathers were taken out of his shop in the state in which he found them. Among the other shoes and boots produced by Coombs he swears to 4 pairs of boots. The others had been disposed of by him to Valentine on credit in the course of his trade. The upper leathers were not in fact lined - he was mistaken in saying so. Four pairs of boots produced by Powers the constable were found in the house of Haynes at Ampthill - the uppers of three are his property, the fourth are not his. The other 6 pairs of boots produced by Powers were found in the house of Sparks, a clothier at Ampthill - the uppers are his property. Bartlett Powers, constable of Bedford - last Saturday he accompanied Mr Bolton to the Chequers Publich Hosue and found Valentine with a bundle and bag containing boots or shoes. Mr Bolton claimed 3 pairs of the boots as his property. Later Coombs the chief constable came in and he delivered to him the 3 pairs of boots. Coombs also took possession of the other contents of the bag and bundle. In the afternoon he accompanied Mr Bolton to Ampthill and at the house of Haynes he found 4 pairs of boots now produced and at the house of Sparks he found the other 6 pairs. William Coombs, chief constable of Bedford - he accompanied Mr Bolton to Valentine's house in St Paul's Bedford. He found 3 pairs of upper leathers now produced in the garret where Valentine works. Afterwards he went to the Chequers where he found Valentine in Powers' custody [as above]. He took Valentine to the cage and delivered the bag with the boots and shoes to Michael Headon, who returned it to him when he came back to the Chequers 10 minutes later. He counted the boots and shoes in Headon's presence and there were 24 pairs. He found a number of lasts - he thinks at least 20 pairs - in Valentine's house which Bolton claimed as his property. Michael Headon of Well Street, St Paul Bedford, retired serjeant on full pay - he was at the Chequers and saw Thomas Valentine in the custody of Powers with a baize bag and a bundle. Before Coombs and Powers took Valentine out he saw Valentine put a parcel of shoes into the bag. He delived the bag to Coombs in the same state he received it from Valentine.

item

Valentine, Thomas,
Bolton, Henry,
Munsey, Thomas,
Haynes,
Sparks,
Powers, Bartlett,
Coombs, William,
Headon, Michael

receiving stolen goods, boots, shoes, currier, shoe manufacturer, soldier, Bedford Chequers, St. Paul Bedford, Bedford Well Street, BEDFORD, AMPTHILL