QSR1840/4/5/3/a

Depositions and examination - William Hancock

22 July 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

William Wyton of Leighton Buzzard, brasier - William Hancock had been his journeyman for about 10 years. He had suspected Hancock of robbing him for some time. About a fortnight ago he saw Hancock taken money out of the till in his shop at Leighton Buzzard. The previous night he went to James Smith the police constable, who marked 13 shillings and 5 sixpences in his presence and put them in the till. That morning he let Smith into his house and placed him where he could see over the shop. he let Hancock in about 6am and went into the back room to watch the shop with the police constable. Hancock unlocked the till with a key in his possession (not Wyton's key), took some money out of the till and locked it again. Hancock then took the shutters down and went into the workshop. He and Smith found 4 shillings and one sixpence had been taken. The iron head, copper soap dish and two awls now produced are his [Wyton's] property. James Smith of Leighton Buzzard, police constable - corroborated evidence of Wyton. He searched Hancock and found the marked money in his trousers pocket. He also found the key now produced which is a picklock key. He searched Hancock's house and found an iron head, a copper soap dish and two awls. William Hancock - nothing to say.

item

Hancock, William,
Wyton, William,
Smith, James

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, brasier, stealing, money