QSR1852/4/5/18

Depositions of Edward Fossey, labourer of Aspley Guise and William Clay, police constable of Aspley Guise. In the case of John Bowler accused of stealing 2 planks.

14 October 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Edward Fossey: foreman to William Handscomb of Aspley Nursery. He was informed on 9 October that the prisoner had been to his master’s yard the previous morning and taken away 2 planks. On 12 October he advised the police of it. He went with Constable Clay to the prisoner’s house at Wavendon End, Bucks and saw the planks. He recognised them immediately, there were larch fir and cross cut. William Clay: on 13 October he went with Edward Fossey to the prisoner’s house at Wavendon End and told the prisoner they had come to look for 2 boards taken from Mr Handscomb’s yard. The prisoner said he had not taken any. In a barn adjoining the house, on a loft, they found 4 pieces of board newly cut across. The prisoner said he had had them some time. He got them down and Edward Fossey swore them to be the property of Mr Handscomb. On the way to the station house at Woburn the prisoner said he hoped Mr Handscomb would forgive him as he had worked for him for a long while and he wanted to see Handscomb before he was locked up.Statement of the accused: he had asked his master to sell him one or two planks and his master told him to look one or two out. He had not seen his master to speak to since.

item

Bowler, John,
Fossey, Edward,
Clay, William,
Handscomb, William

ASPLEY GUISE, Wavendon, stealing, wood