QSR1841/1/5/38

Depositions and examination - John Godley

1 January 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

Jane Hartop wife of Thomas Hartop of Bolnhurst - she hung a linen shirt on her garden hedge to dry the previous morning. About 3/4 hour later she saw it was gone. She went to the road and enquired of a packman if he had met anyone. He said he had met a travelling man. She went after the man, then met William Okins and asked him to go after the man which he did. She also went after the man and picked the shirt up in Mr Pestell's ploughed field. The value of the shirt is half a crown. William Okins of Bolnhurst, labourer - Jane Hartop asked him to go after a man who had stolen her shirt. He had met the prisoner before that and followed him to the stile that leads into Mr Pestell's ploughed field. He saw Godley drop something white in the field. He ran about a mile after the prisoner and meeting with James Wiles said "catch that man for I can't". James Wiles did catch him and he was brought to the public house. He went for Jane Hartop. James Wiles of Bolnhurst, labourer - he saw Godley running along the Bushmead Road and William Okins called out to him to catch him. He ran after Godley and caught him. Just before he caught him Godley said "I see it's of no use". He took Godley to the public house and stayed with him until the policeman came. While taking him to the public house Godley said several times "I hope you will have mercy on me". He left the room and went into the next room for two minutes. When he returned he found the iron staunchet that secures the window was forced out that the prisoner was gone. He went after Godley and found him in the ditch in the the Revd Mr Gerys field and too him back to the public house. Stephen Harrison of Bolnhurst, baker and publican - he saw Godley getting over the stile into Mr Pestell's field. He said to Godley he had got a shirt and had better bring it. Godley dropped something in the field. He told Jane Hartop who was then coming up. Godley ran off. John Godley - he did not take the shirt off the hedge. He didn't think it of any use to say more.

item

Godley, John,
Hartop, Jane,
Hartop, Thomas,
Okins, William,
Wiles, James,
Harrison, Stephen,
Pestell

BOLNHURST, Bolnhurst Bushmead Road, stealing, clothing