QSR1842/2/5/6/a

Deposition of James Dean of Staploe in the parish of Eaton Socon

26 March 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

He lives with his mother at Staploe. On Wednesday his mother told him a shirt of his had been taken off the hedge where she had hung it to dry, and she described to him the man Pearce she thought had taken it. He enquired which way Pearce had gone and sent for his brother-in-law Francis Hart of Duloe. When Hart came they went after Pearce. They followed him and overtook him on the other side of Bolnhurst going towards Thurleigh. Pearce turned back again soon after and they followed him to the Three Tuns at Eaton. He went in after Pearce and Hart fetched Price the policeman. He accused Pearce of having his shirt, and Pearce admitted he had it and pulled it out of his bag, claiming he had bought it from a person who was new there. Pearce gave him the shirt. The description his mother gave of the person who had been at her house that morning exactly suited Pearce and did not at all agree to that of the other man. The shirt produced is his. When it was given to him by Pearce it was very wet.

item

Pearce, Edward,
Dean, James,
Hart, Francis,
Price

STAPLOE, EATON SOCON, BOLNHURST, THURLEIGH, Eaton Socon Three Tuns, stealing, clothing