QSR1842/3/5/15

Depositions and examination - Edmund Clarke

28 April 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

William Cooke - he lives at Silsoe and keeps a draper's shop. He sells hats. He knows Clarke. On Tuesday night 26 April Clarke came into his shop - Clarke wanted to take a cottage of him. He refused, turned away and left Clarke standing in the shop. There were some new hats standing on the counter near the door Clarke went out at. The next morning his wife told him a hat was missing. He suspected Clarke, went to where Clarke was at work and found a new hat on his head (the hat now produced). The hat has his private mark inside. He knows it to be one of those standing on his counter, and he had not sold one of the kind since last autumn. The hat is worth 9 shillings. Frances Cooke, wife of William Cooke - she has the principal management of the shop. She saw 5 new hats standing on the counter near the door on Tuesday evening when the shutters were shut up. The prisoner came in a few minutes later. Nobody else came in that night that she knows of. She believes the hat produced to be the one taken. Edmund Clarke - he bought the hat from a man who travels with goods on his back. He gave 3 shillings for it and the hat he had on his head. He bought it on Tuesday night. The man he bought it from was a stranger to him.

item

Clarke, Edmund,
Cooke, William,
Cook, Frances

SILSOE, stealing, hat, draper