QSR1852/1/5/14

Depositions of John Gudgin, licensed Victualler of Clophill, Mary Gudgin, wife of John of Clophill, James Worsley, police constable of Clophill, and William Chapman, shoemaker of Clophill. In the case of Richard Matthews accused of stealing 2 pecks of acorns

4 December 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

John Gudgin: a licensed victualler in Clophill, where he had a loft over his stable. In there he had 20 to 30 bushels of acorns which he'd bought at different times. He gave the prisoner permission to sleep in the loft and he often remained there until a late hour of the morning. On 3 December, he went to William Chapman's and saw some acorns which Chapman said he had bought from the prisoner. The quantity was about 3 pecks. Gudgin believed the acorns to be his. They were in the same state of dryness as the ones in his loft. He charged the prisoner who said he had collected them himself and kept them at his brother Williams. He went to William Matthews, who told him Richard had not stored any there. Mary Gudgin: on 3 December she saw the prisoner coming from the stable with a bag, and she watched him go into the village. She went to the house of [Harnwell?] and saw the prisoner’s bag. The prisoner said that he had sand in the bag. It looked like the same sand from as that where the acorns were stored. She went to William Chapman who told her he had just bought acorns from the prisoner. William Chapman: was a shoemaker living in Clophill. The prisoner came to his house with a bag full of acorns. There was almost 3 pecks. The prisoner had brought him acorns several times. The prisoner had also visited the previous evening, saying it would the last time he did so. On bringing the acorns on 3 December, he told Chapman that the acorns were those of his mates, and they appeared freshly picked up. James Worsley: a police constable. He compared the acorns in the loft of Gudgin to those given to him by William Chapman. They appeared the same.Statement of the accused - Richard Matthews: stated he was not guilty

item

Matthews, Richard,
Gudgin, John,
Gudgin, Mary,
Worsley, James,
Chapman, William

CLOPHILL, stealing, licensed victualler, shoemaker