Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1840/3/5/18-20/c
  • Title
    Examinations of Elizabeth Skevington and Eliza Westly of Turvey
  • Date free text
    16 May 1840
  • Production date
    From: 1840 To: 1840
  • Scope and Content
    Elizabeth Skevington - she went outside the door with Chaplin for a minute. She came in again with him with two little children after her. Her daughters were in the room and another young woman, Ann Prigmore. Her daughters were in the house and about the room, but never went near his basket. Chaplin left and returned about 5pm. There was a poor lame boy sitting in the house all the time. Chaplin asked if she had seen a necklace and purse from his basket that he had lost. She said not, and if she did she would take care of them for him. She asked Edward the lame boy if he had seen a purse - he said he had seen Anne (one of her little girls) with a red purse in her hand. They went down the garden and found the purse full of mould and some of the beads - the string of the necklace was broken. The boy found them first. She set off after Chaplin with the beads and purse and went further then the Three Fishes Public House but could not find him and decided to let it rest until Monday. The next Monday week Chaplin and the policman came. She went to the bureau and fetched the purse; the beads were upstairs in a tea cup. Two tea spoons were taken out of the basket by her little girl, but she saw them and put them back. Her little girl is about 3 years old. She is married and her husband's name is William Skevington. Eliza Westley - when the ragman came to the house she was [??] herself. Her sister Sarah and Ann Prigmore were upstairs making the beds. Ruth was in the room. The man came for the bones and they all went and looked at his basket. She bought a bone bobbin from him. They never left the house until the man had left, and he never said anything to them about losing anything. He came back about 5pm when there were four of them sitting outdoors at work. He asked if they had a necklace and purse belonging to him. They said not. The following Monday he came with the policeman - her mother said she and Edward had found a purse and necklace. She gave Mr Cooper the beads. Her mother said if the purse was damaged she was willing to pay for it and for the necklace. Sarah Westley - saw no more than her sister.
  • Level of description
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