QSR1840/3/5/22/a

Depositions of John Mason and Samuel Taylor and examination of William Plummer

21 May 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

John Mason, bailiff to Earl de Grey at Wrest Park, Silsoe - last Wednesday he missed an iron standard belonging to a wood waggon. He had previously been told one had been found in Silsoe which was suspected to have been stolen. He saw one at the yard of Charles Giddings the wheelwright. It was then in the hands of Taylor the constable. He believes it to be the one now produced and to have been taken from Earl de Grey's premises, valued at 2s 8d. Samuel Taylor, constable of Silsoe - Plummer came to Giddings shop where he works and offered some old iron for sale. Giddings asked if he bought it from the young man at the corner house (Michael Gillman). Plummer said he had not. He searched Plummer's cart and found the iron standard. He or Giddings told Plummer that Gillman had offered the iron to Giddings the day before. Plummer then said he bought it from Gillman at Mrs Mann's house the day before for 4d. He produced another matching iron standard he had taken from the timber yard of Earl de Grey at Silsoe - both of them fitted in the timber waggon. William Plummer - says he went to Mrs Mann's house and asked if she had any old stuff to sell. Michael Gillman came and said he had a bargain for him and brought out the piece of iron. He did not see a mark on it. He weighed it and it came to 4d. Gillman offered a bit of an old sack that weighed 4lbs and he also bought that. When Taylor asked if he had bought a bit of iron at the corner house or Gillman's he said "no" and couldn't call it back.

item

Plummer, William,
Gillman, Michael,
Mason, John,
Earl de Grey,
Giddings, Charles,
Taylor, Samuel,
Mann

SILSOE, Wrest Park, stealing, wheelwright, wagon