QSR1840/3/5/31-33

Depositions and examinations - Elizabeth Hoy, Daniel Rowson and James Hargrave

11 June 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

John Whitworth of Turvey, farmer - he was in his yard late the previous night and the woman who calls herself Elizabeth Hoy was in the yard at the same time. He had a purse in his pocket containing two sovereigns and a half sovereign. Mr Brooks and Mr Charles Whitworth and two or three other friends wer visiting him, but they were not in his yard at the time. He is certain there was no one else in the yard beside the woman when he lost his purse. As soon as he discovered his loss he went to Mr Brookes who was in his stable and mentioned what had happened. Brookes went for the policeman. Some time that morning Mr Whitworth brought him the silk purse now produced, which is his. He did not see either Hargrave or Rowson when he lost his purse. Alfred Brookes of Lavendon (Bucks), farmer - he was visiting Mr Whitworth the previous night at Turvey and at about 12pm saw the woman who calls herself Elizabeth Hoy talking to Mr Whitworth over the pales near his house. Afterwards he went into Whitworth's yard and he told him of his loss. He went down the street to look for the girl and saw her with Rowson getting into a cart. They drove off. He went to the policeman and they went in pursuit of them. They overtook them in the Carlton road and found Rowson, Hargrave and the girl Elizabeth Hoy. They waited until Mr Whitworth came, and during this time Rowson went over the hedge for some purpose. About 4am he went to the place to see if he could find anything but could not find the purse. Charles Whitworth of Brayfield (Bucks) - he was coming down the Carlton Road at 12.30pm the previous night. He met the policeman, Mr Whitworth and Mr Brooks. They asked if he had met a cart on the road. He [C Whitworth] said there were two men and a woman in it. He turned back with them, and when he overtook the the cart the policman was with one of the prisoners in Mr Whitworth's wheatfield by the side of the road. He heard Mr Whitworth say he could swear to the woman. About 8.30am that morning he went to the same wheat field, looked about and found the purse. James Cooper, constable of Turvey - about 12.20pm he was called by Mr Brookes to go in pursuit of a man and a woman in a cart that had gone up Carlton Lane. When he overtook the cart there were two men and a woman. Rowson went over the fence into an adjoining wheat field. He followed Rowson, waited for him, and Rowson returned to the cart. He did not find anything. Mr Whitworth came up and gave the woman into his charge for robbing him of £2 10s. He asked where she came from - she said from Biggleswade. She said one of the men had promised her 3d and to provide her with a bed. She denied having anything in the cart - since then he found some clothing. She said she had no money. He took her to the inn, searched her, and found nothing. He did not take the two men into custody at first, but later returned to the Carlton Road. After about an hour Roswon came up walking, and when he came to the place where he had previously got over from the cart he appeared to be looking for something. He asked what Rowson was doing there - he said he was looking for some money (3 shillings) he had left there the previous night. He took Rowson into custody, took him to the Tinker Inn and searched him. He found £3 5s 6d - a 1/2 sovereign and the rest silver, in a canvas bag. He asked Rowson how he knew he had lost 3s - he said he did not know. He was sober. He said he thought he had about 50s on him. Having left Rowson in custody, he went again to Carlton road with Whitworth and Brooks, and found the cart near Carlton wood by the roadside, Hargrave asleep under the cart, and the pony turned out. Hargrave said Rowson was the owner of the cart. He took Hargrave to Turvey, searched him and found 15s 3d. He found 9 shillings worth of halfpence in the cart. He had seen the woman talking with Mr Whitworth about 11.40pm close to his house outside the rails. He found a letter on Hargrave he was very unwilling to let him have. Elizabeth Hoy - she never saw Mr Whitworth until he came after her in the cart, and neither of the other gentlemen, and never saw his money. She had no money, but had an orange. Mr Whitworth wanted the policeman to let her go, but the other gentlemen said no. Daniel Rowson - he was going with his pony and cart to Odell fair and the young woman got [??] of his cart. As he was going along the police stopped him and asked what he had about him. He said nothing but his own. The policeman said he would search him - he took his purse, looked at it and gave it back, and said he could go about his business. He returned to the field where he had done a job for himself to look for 3 shillings and was taken. James Hargrave - he was at Bolnhurst the previous day with Rowson selling nuts and oranges. They came away to the feast at Turvey. There was nobody with them to the feast at Turvey. There was nobody with them. They kept a stall at Turvey and were packing to go off when the young woman asked if they were going to Odell fair. They said yes and she asked for a ride as she had no money. He said he would give her 3d to pay for her lodgings. Then the police came and stopped the cart.

item

Hoy, Elizabeth,
Rowson, Daniel,
Hargrave, James,
Whitworth, John,
Brookes, Alfred,
Whitworth, Charles,
Cooper, James

TURVEY, Lavendon, Brayfield, CARLTON, ODELL, stealing, money, farmer, police constable, Turvey Tinker, fairs and markets, nuts, oranges