QSR1841/3/5/35

Depositions and examination - Thomas Hodgins

12 June 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

William Gilks of Woburn, a private in the Royal Marines - on Thursday 10 June he was at Leighton Buzzard in company with Thomas Hodgins at the Bull. They had some beer together which he paid for. He took 1/2 a sovereign and 6 shillings out of his pocket wrapped up in a piece of paper. He is sure Hodgins saw the money. He paid 4d for the beer and then put all the money in his watch pocket. They then went together to Thomas Reeve's beer shop at Heath and Reach. He bought a pint of beer for 3d. Hodgins partook of it. He then left Hodgins in the beer shop and went into Reeve's barn to lay down on Hodgins advice as he was drowsy. He went to sleep about 11.30am and slept for around 1/2 an hour. When he laid down he had the money in his watch pocket. Hodgins came to the barn, put his hand into his watch pocket and said "Swaddys always put their money in their watch pockets", then left the barn. He did not know what Hodgins meant by "Swaddy". He laid in the barn until about 12pm, then went into Reeve's house for more beer. He found his money was gone and accused Hodgins, who denied it. He then came to Woburn and in the morning he told William Bundy Police Constable No.33 that Thomas Hodgins had robbed him. George Collings, aged 16, of Heath and Reach - he works for Thomas Reeve who makes whiting and keeps a beer shop. A bitch belonging to a hedger at Reeve's was in the barn with her puppies. He heard her bark and went into the barn. He saw William Gilkes lying on the ground and Hodgins by his side. He saw Hodgins pull up Gilkes's smockfrock. Hodgins saw him and said he was looking for the puppies. The puppies were two or three yards from Gilks in a corner of the barn. Hodgins asked him to reach one. He did, and Hodgins told him to put it down again. He then left the barn leaving Hodgins by Gilks' side. He told his sister he had seen a [mouse?]. Thomas Hodgins - on Thursday Gilks treated him with beer at the Bull for which he paid 5d. Gilks was tipsey and when they came out of the Bull he rolled several shillings about the road. They then came to Harry Bates's beer shop in Leighton and Gilks treated him with a pot there. They then came to the Queens Head at Heath and Reach and Gilks treated him with a pint and some tobacco. Gilks partook of all the beer. They then came to Reeves and had 2 pints of beer which Gilks paid for. Gilks was drunk and he advised him to go out and lay down. Gilks went into the barn. He went with him and George Collings with them. He never touched Gilks' smock frock. He went back into the house and had another pint of beer which he paid for with a half pence which Gilks had given him. He drank once and then took the beer to Collings and another boy making whiting. The other boy drank it. He then laid down by the boys and went to sleep. When he woke he went into the house again. Gilks came in about 1/2 hour after he went out and accused him of taking his money. He wanted Gilks to charge a Constable, but he would not and went away.He stayed in the house more than an hour afterwards. George Collings [reexamined] - he did not go into the barn with Gilks and Hodgins, he went 1/4 hour later when he heard the bitch bark. When Hodgins left "us boys" he saw him putting on his shoes near where the whiting is stacked. Before that he heard Hodgins say he would not rob Gilks for all the world.

item

Gilks, William,
Hodgins, Thomas,
Collings, George,
Reeve, Thomas,
Bundy, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, HEATH & REACH, WOBURN, stealing, money, drunkenness, dogs, beerhouses, Leighton Buzzard Bull, Heath & Reach Queens Head