QSR1842/3/5/42

Depositions and examination - Henry Pearson charged with stealing a knife

1 June 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

James Crisp of Clapham, publican - he is a farmer and keeps a public house at Clapham. That morning (1 June) Fane the police constable showed him a large table knife (now produced). It is his. He had not missed it before, but after it was shown to him he counted his knives and found only three when there should have been six. They were all there on Saturday May 28th. The previous afternoon there was a great fire at Clapham and the people who worked the engines were at his house for refreshment and took bread and cheese. There were many of them and he cannot say whether Pearson was among them. His knives were in use on that occasion. He recognises the knife by notches on the back of the blade. William Fane, no.1 of the Bedfordshire Rural Police - he was on duty at the fire at Clapham yesterday. Between 11pm and 12am he heard a very great noise in the village some distance from the fire. He went there and found 7 or 8 men rioting. Another police constable was taking the party into Mr Crisp's house the Horse and Jockey to recognise them. He assisted the constable. Henry Pearson tried to rescue one of the rioters. He secured them both and handcuffed them. He later took two more into custody and took them with the prisoner to Bedford. When he searched Pearson at Bedford he saw him take the knife now produced and put it under the bed clothes in the cage. He turned down the cover and took possession of the knife. He took the knife to Clapham that morning to try to find the owner. Mr Crisp said it was his. As he was bringing Pearson to Bedford Mr Small junior, son of Mr Thomas Small the superintendent of the engines, said to him that Pearson had been working the engines and taking refreshments at Mr Crisp's and ought to have known better than to interfere with a party he knew nothing about. He did not know about the knife at that time as he had not yet searched Pearson Henry Ison Jebbett, superintendent of police - he was on duty yesterday during the fire at Clapham. About 11.30 to 11.45pm he heard a noise at Mr Crisp's. He went to the house and found Pearson in custody. He was present at the cage at Bedford and saw him attempt to conceal something at the head of the bed. Fane turned the bed down and found the knife. Henry Pearson of Clapham, labourer – he went with the St Peters Engine to the fire yesterday He continued to work the engine without ceasing until it stopped going. After that he went to Mr Crisp’s at the Horse and Jockey to have some bread and cheese and beer. They had only one pint a piece during the working. Having had no victuals the beer in Mr Crisp’s soon made him tipsy. He had a knife in his hand. There was a cry out of fighting and he and some others went out. As he was going in a policeman had got a man doubled between two doors in the passage. He went in a flurry not thinking what he had got in his hand. He thinks he had the knife but was so tipsy he took no notice. The man was groaning very much and had got his arm twisted. He pushed him to release him and was taken into custody. When he got to the Station House something pricked him – he did not know what. He pulled it out of his pocket and knew he had no business with it so put it under the bed.

item

Pearson, Henry,
Crisp, James,
Fane, William,
Jebbett, Henry Ison,
Small, Thomas

CLAPHAM, stealing, publican, fires, fire engines, local fire brigades, rioting, Clapham Horse & Jockey