QSR1851/1/5/27

Depositions of Benjamin Tapsell, hawker of Maidstone, Charles Inwards, licensed victauller of Hockcliffe and William Clough, police sergeant of Hockcliffe. In the case of Alfred Cook accused of stealing a hearth rug.

29 November 1850

From: 1850 To: 1851

Benjamin Tapsell: a travelling hawker, selling different kids of goods with a horse and van. On 27 November he arrived and put up in the yard of the Bell Public House in Hockcliffe. On 28 November, left the van and put a second hand heath rug in a rack in the van. He then went to the house to take refreshment and returned to the van to sleep. The next morning he left Hockliffe and missed the rug when he'd travelled about a mile along the Dunstable Road. He sent his wife back to the Bell Inn to tell the landlord of his loss, and he continued on to Dunstable. He saw the landlord of the Bell at Dunstable and Inwards said he would try to recover the rug for him. He had seen the prisoner whilst in Hockcliffe and they had taken beer together. Charles Inwards: the landlord of the Bell Inn at Hockliffe. Tapsell arrived with his vans at the inn on Wednesday and stayed until Friday morning. He knew the prisoner and saw him drinking with Mr Tapsell in the tap room on the Thursday evening. He was informed by Tapsell's wife of the lost rug on the Friday and he saw Tapsell himself in Dunstable on the Friday afternoon. On returning to Hockliffe he advised Sergeant Clough of the loss. He advised he suspected Cook as he remained late on Thursday evening, and this was not his habit. He went with Clough to the house of the prisoner’s mother, where they found the rug in an attached barn. William Clough: he went to the prisoners lodging with Charles Inwards. He searched the rooms but found nothing. He afterwards went to the adjoining barn and found the hearth rug.Statement of the accused: nothing to say

item

Tapsell, Benjamin,
Cook, Alfred,
Inwards, Charles,
Clough, William

stealing, WOBURN, Hockcliffe, Maidstone, hawkers, household goods, Hockliffe Bell