QSR1852/4/5/3/a

Depositions of Thomas Allen, the younger, labourer of Sharnbrook, William Green, police sergeant of Sharnbrook and Thomas Bazeley, of Bedford. In the case of George Spencer accused of stealing a silk handkerchief.

21 July 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Thomas Allen: On 20 July about 11 o'clock he was at a dancing booth at Sharnbrook. He had a dance and then went to the end of the booth for a bottle of ginger beer. Before drinking the ginger beer, he had taken out his handkerchief and wiped his face and then returned it to his pocket. Whilst he was having his ginger beer the prisoner stood close to him and asked him to have some nuts. Spencer then went to the top end of the booth. Allen had occasion to use his handkerchief again and missed it. He went to Spencer and asked him if he had his handkerchief. Spencer said he did not have it. Allen told Spencer he knew him to have it and if he refused to return it he would get somebody who would make him. Spencer said he did have it and sent a boy up the booth to get it from his smock. The boy could not find it. Allen told Spencer to fetch it or he would make him. Spencer fetched the smock and Allen saw the handkerchief in the pocket. Allen took the handkerchief and left. On his way home he saw Sergeant Green and told him what had happened. The handkerchief was silk and initialled. The only other person nearby when it was missed was Thomas Bazeley and he could not have taken it from where he stood. Allen knew the prisoner as he had been selling nuts the previous night, as it was Sharnbrook feast. William Green: a sergeant stationed at Sharnbrook. He had been on duty the night of Sharnbrook feast. He had been standing outside the dancing booth. Thomas Allen came out and told him he had had his pocket picked. He found Spencer in the yard of the Swan public house, and took him into custody. Spencer denied picking Allen's pocket. Thomas Bazeley: on 20 July he had been at his ginger beer stall in the dancing booth at Sharnbrook. He sold a bottle to Thomas Allen and George Spencer had been standing close to him. The prosecutor said he had lost his handkerchief and that no-one had been near him except George Spencer. Allen went to Spencer and asked for the handkerchief and Spencer said that if he had it he would give it to him. Spencer sent a boy to fetch his smock and the boy could not find it. Spencer went himself, fetched it and asked Allen if it was his handkerchief.

item

Spencer, George,
Allen, Thomas,
Green, William,
Bazeley, Thomas

SHARNBROOK, Sharnbrook Swan, stealing, feasts, pickpocket, handkerchief