QSR1839/4/5/13-14/a

Depositions - John Fuller charged with stealing a shawl from Rhoda Coleman and George Chapman charged with receiving the shawl knowing it to be stolen

11 September 1839

From: 1839 To: 1839

Rhoda Coleman of Wells Street, St Paul's Bedford, widow - about 6.30pm the previous evening she was at Mrs Faulkner's in White Horse Street keeping her house when John Fuller came in and stayed about 10 minutes. When he came she had a dark shawl made of silk and cotton lying on the table. Within two minutes of Fuller leaving she missed the shawl. Between 7 and 8pm she overtook him in Wells Street and asked him to go with her to Mr Faulkner's, saying there was someone there who wanted to speak to him. He refused. He also refused to go into a shop opposite with her, and then left. About 5 minutes later as she was standing against Mrs Walker's (the Shoulder of Mutton) in Wells Street she saw Fuller and Chapman come out of Mrs Walker's together and go down the road towards Ford End. A little way down the road they stopped. She heard a blow, saw Chapman fall and Fuller run away. Chapman got up and went after Fuller. She met Coombs with Chapman and they all three went together to Mrs Faulkner's. Coombs produced the shawl, and Chapman told Coombs he bought it from Fuller for 18d. She bought it about 3 years ago and paid 10s 6d. Mary Faulkner wife of William Faulkner of White Horse Street, St Paul's Bedford, whitesmith - went out the previous evening leaving Rhoda Coleman in chare of her house. She returned about 6.15pm and then only Mrs Coleman, Fuller and herself were in the house. She saw Mrs Coleman's shawl on the table. After Fuller left the shawl was gone. She went after Fuller and found him at Mrs Walker's She went for a policeman but couldn't find one, so returned to Mrs Walker's and watched. She saw Chapman go in and tell Fuller he wanted to speak to him. She saw them leave and stand whispering in the road, then hurry towards Ford End. Fuller was very tipsy. She went for a policeman again and met Mr Coombs. They met Chapmen, who said Fuller had knocked him down. Chapman chased after Fuller, came back and gave the shawl to Mr Coombs saying "this is the shawl", though nothing had been said about a shawl in her hearing. He said he gave Fuller 18d for it. William Coombs, chief constable of Bedford - he went to Faulkner's house in White Horse Street about 9pm, then to Wells Street where he met Mrs Faulkner. They went together towards Ford End, met Chapman and asked him where Fuller was. Chapman replied that Fuller had struck him and pursued him towards Ford End. He and Mrs Faulkner followed to the bottom of Bassett Street where they met Chapman, who said he could not find Fuller. He asked Chapman where the shawl was and he produced it, saying he had bought it from him in All Hallows Lane for 18d - Fuller had assured him it was his mother's and not stolen. Samuel Lamb, constable of Bedford - apprehended Fuller at about 12 at his house at Biddenham. He was in bed. He said "I suppose it is about the handkerchief which I picked up in the house and sold to Chapman". He said he sold it to him as he was in the habit of doing in his mad fits. Fuller said he thought the handkerchief was his when he picked it up in the house.

item

Fuller, John,
Chapman, George,
Coleman, Rhoda,
Faulkner, Mary,
Faulkner, William,
Coombs, William,
Lamb, Samuel

stealing, clothing, housekeeper, Bedford Shoulder of Mutton, Bedford St.Paul, Bedford Wells Street, Bedford White Horse Street, Bedford Ford End, Bedford All Hallows Lane, BIDDENHAM