QSR1852/2/5/2

Depositions of George Love, gamekeeper of Aspley Guise, John Quilty, police constable of Woburn, Thomas Bodser, labourer of Woburn and Henry Hodskins, labourer of Woburn. In the case of Eli Smith accused of stealing 4 shillings and a penny.

13 March 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Henry Hodskins (through his interpreter Thomas Bodser of Woburn): a labourer living in the house of John Morris in Woburn. The prisoner also lodges there. On 12 March about 9 o'clock, both he and Morris went to bed. Morris and Smith both slept in the same room as him, although he had his own bed. When he went to bed he had 4 shillings and a penny in his trouser pocket, which he put on his bed. About midnight the prisoner came to bed, he lit a candle and undid his boot. Hodskins felt his trousers move as if being pulled from the bed. He saw the prisoner doing something in the pocket of his trousers, but as the prisoner saw him look he blew out the candle. Hodskins missed his money in the morning. He choose to tell the policeman rather than say anything to the prisoner, who was in bed when Hodskins got up. John Quilty: soon after 6 o'clock on the morning of 13 March, he was advised of the theft. He went to Morris's house and found the prisoner Smith in bed. He found the money under his pillow. Smith claimed he knew nothing of it.Eli Smith: he arrived home between 10 and 11 o'clock, lit a candle and got into bed. He put his money in a tin box and put it under his head. He had received it from Mr Forbes. The witness Hodskin had before stated he had lost money, only to later find it. He did not leave the bed from the time he got in it to when Quilty arrived.

item

Smith, Eli.,
Love, George,
Quilty, John,
Bodser, Thomas,
Hodskins, Henry

WOBURN, stealing, money