QSR1852/4/5/23/a

Depositions of Evan Owen Williams, builder of Luton, Joseph Dillingham, sawyer of Luton, William Squires, blacksmith of Luton and Alfred Atherton Murfin, police constable of Luton. In the case of James Pates accused of stealing 3 boards.

13 September 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Joseph Dillingham: a sawyer working for Mr Williams the builder in Luton. He was working for Williams at Smith's farm in Leagrave doing repairs. About 12 months previous Dillingham had cut some logs into boards. He put them all together into Mr Smith's yard. He last saw them on 9 September. The prisoner was working there that day and was till there when Dillingham left. On going to work on 10 September he saw the straw was taken off the boards and stack had been disturbed. He told his master. Murfin bought 3 boards to him to and he compared them with those in the stack. They appeared to be the same. William Squires: a blacksmith of Leagrave Marsh but lived in Luton. On the evening of 9 September he saw the prisoner coming from Leagrave Marsh towards Luton carrying 3 boards. He afterwards left Leagrave Marsh himself and went towards Luton, and he overtook the prisoner who was carrying the boards. He walked a few skips beside him and then left him. Alfred Atherton Murfin: from information received he went to the prisoner’s house on 11 September. In the barn Murfin found 3 boards. The prisoner was not at the house but he afterwards met him in the street. The prisoner said Mr Smith of Leagarve Marsh had given him the boards. Asked again he said he had taken them and may as well tell the truth about it. Evan Owen Williams: a builder repairing the farm in the occupation of Mr Smith at Leagrave Marsh, which belongs to Sir Edmond Filmer. The boards were cut out of Filmer's timber but were in the care of Williams.

item

Pates, James,
Williams, Evan Owen,
Dillingham, Joseph,
Squires, William,
Murfin, Alfred Atherton,
Filmer, Edmund

LUTON, Leagrave Marsh, stealing, wood, builder, sawyer, blacksmith