QSR1843/1/5/20-21/a

Depositions and examination - William Weston

26 October 1842

From: 1842 To: 1843

George Turney - he is a baker at Little Brickhill (Bucks). He manages the business for his brother William Turney. Last Monday he went to Mrs Armstrong's at Fourne Hill in Hockliffe with his cart laden with bread. He left his cart in a field about half a furlong from the house. When he got back a few mintues later he missed a bundle of clothes which belonged to a young woman who was going to service at Dunstable. He then missed some of the bread - he thought 7 or 8 loaves. He did not see anyone near his cart. He informed police constable Clough. The 5 quartern loaves and the 5 half quartern loaves produced are of his making and he believes them to be the ones taken. He had not sold more than 3 to any person. The value of the loaves is 3s 9d. William Clough, police constable no.40 - in consequence of hearing from Mr Turney he went to Fourne Hill and found the loaves hidden in a hold by the side of a bank adjoining the road, about 100 yards from where Mr Turney's cart was left. He found the loaves about 5pm and watched them until 8pm. He then saw 3 men come along the road from towards Heath and Reach and come direct to the spot. The first man came through a gap into the hole and begin to handle the bread. He heard that man say "come on, don't be afraid. I have been here several times before." The other two men stood outside the hole as if ready to receive the bread. He seized the first man and threw him down. One of the others pulled him off and there was a struggle for some minutes. Weston, who was one of the two men outside the hole, atttacked him with a piece of a rail and struck him several times. They managed to get away from him. The moon was getting up and it was very starlit. He is sure Weston was one of the men. He took Weston into custody on the following morning at Heath and Reach. Two of the men left their caps behind [caps produced]. He believes all the men must have been scratched by the bushes during the struggle. Weston had blood on his trousers when he took him next moring and had blood on his upper lip. Weston refused to tell his brother officer how that was done. William Weston - on Monday morning he was working at Swinstead's and after breakfast he went to the fair with William Swinstead. They were at the Cock and Robert Barns came in. Barnes was with him the rest of the day until between 1 and 2am the next morning. There were 5 or 6 of them who came home together - William Davis, Thomas Dancer, Thomas Stevens, Thomse Reeve and William Swinstead, and a young woman named Ann Gibbs. They all live at Heath. He never saw Nursall or Osborne all that day. Whn he went home to breakfast on Monday morning he asked his mother where Nursall was and she said he was gone out and that Osborn was gone too.

item

Weston, William,
Turney, George,
Turney, William,
Clough, William,
Nursall, Edward,
Swinstead, William,
Davis, William,
Dancer, Thomas,
Stevens, Thomas,
Reeve, Thomas,
Gibbs, Ann,
Osborn

Little Brickhill, HOCKLIFFE, HEATH & REACH, baker, stealing, bread, clothing, police constable, assault, Hockliffe Cock