QSR1852/3/5/32

Depositions of Ann Emly, widow of Billington, Priscilla Emly, singlewoman of Billington, and John Olden, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Joseph Irons accused of stealing a half sovereign

3 June 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Priscilla Emly: on 1 June she was returning from Leighton Fair with her mother. They were going down Billington Hill when the prisoner caught hold of her and began to swing her about. She had her mother's basket in her hand and she ran to her mother for protection. The basket was knocked out of her hand and the lid and some money, which was in a handkerchief, fell into the road. The prisoner picked it up and put it in his pocket. She did not know how much money there had been. The prisoner appeared drunk and he was a stranger. Her mother asked the prisoner for the money and he refused to give it to her. Anne Emly: a widow of Billington. She was returning with her daughter from Leighton Fair and was going down Billington Hill, when the prisoner caught hold of her daughter. Her daughter came to her for protection. The prisoner appeared tipsy. She had given her daughter a basket to carry which contained half a sovereign and 3 shillings and sixpence tied in a corner of a handkerchief and a shilling and sixpence was tied in the other corner. The basket was knocked on the road and the lid fell off. The handkerchief tumbled out and prisoner picked it up and put it in his pocket. She asked him several times for it, telling him he had her money. He refused. Some other people came up and said the prisoner did not have her money and she was telling a story. She took hold of the prisoner and would not let him go, whilst her daughter ran for the constable. On her return, her daughter said he was not at home. One of the people told her to go back and find her money but she said she had seen the prisoner pick it up. Some of the Billington people told her his name was Joseph Irons. The next morning she went and informed the police of her loss and described the man. She did not search his pockets, although she did try but he would not let her. John Olden: he was informed by Ann Emly that she had been robbed of 15 shillings and she described the man, and he went after him. He found him in a booth at Northill. He was plaiting and watching some people at the skittles. he said he had not taken the money. On searching him, Olden found 5 shillings, which Irons said he had from selling his watch to his brother.Statment of the accused: [crossed through] he was going down Billington Hill and ran into a young woman. Her basket lid fell off. An older woman ran up and said she had lost her money. She said if he had picked it up she would give him [?]. He said "my good woman, I have not got your money". Some chaps came up and knocked him down. The woman searched his pockets and no more was said.

item

Irons, Joseph,
Emly, Ann,
Emly, Priscilla,
Olden, John

BILLINGTON, NORTHILL, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, general festivals & celebrations, handkerchief, stealing, money, straw plaiting