QSR1843/1/5/31

Depositions and examination - William Hodgins

14 November 1842

From: 1842 To: 1843

Michael Partridge of Leighton Buzzard, confectioner and grocer - last Saturday 12 November when he got up and came downstairs he found the shutters of his shop window open and the shop window broken. Four small squares were entirely smashed and the lead of the window very much bent in. A man could easily get his arm into the shop through the broken window. He did not notice anything had been taken. In the afternoon his housekeepr told him that 6 boxes of lucifer matchers and 3 small weights were gone, all of which had been in the shop window the previous night. He also found the shutter of his bakehouse widow had been opened but nothing more done there except that the iron shutter pin was gone. Sarah Loomes - she is Michael Partridge's housekeeper. On Friday night she shut up the shutters of the shop window and the bakehouse window. They were shut when she went to bed that night. On Saturday morning when she came downstairs her master explained to her how he had found the shutters open and the window borken. She later discovered the lucifer matches adn the small weights were missing. Caroline Claridge, singlewoman - she lives at Leighton Buzzard with her grandmother Mary Claridge whose house is opposite Michael Partridge's hosue. On Friday night about 10.30pm she saw William Hodgins at the shop window. He appeared to try to take out the pins of the shutters. He then left the window for about 10 minutes. When he came back he did not meddle with the shutter. She heard the letter man Folger Hawiatt speak to Hodgins. After the letter man had passed Hodgins came back again. He took out the pin of the bakehouse window shutter and threw open the shutter. He then took out the pin of the shop window shutter, opened it and after a short time she heard the window break. The prisoner appeared to put his hand in and then ran away. She is certain it was the prisoner. There was a light near and it was moonlight. She knew him very well. He was dressed as he is now. Folger Hawiatt - he is letter man at Leighton. He goes from the Post Office to the Leighton Station on the London and Birmingham Railway at about 10.30pm. On leaving the Post Office on Friday night he saw William Hodges coming from the front of Michael Partridge's house. He spoke to Hodgins but he did not reply. Hodgins then crossed the road and went to some other person standing there. He heard them enter into conversation. He had his office lamp light with him and opened it to see who it was. He is sure it was Hodgins. He knew him very well. William Hodins - he was at home and in bed by 9.30pm on Friday night and knows nothing at all about it. He lives with his father in Leck Street, Leighton. His father is malster to Mr Reeve.

item

Hodgins, William,
Partridge, Michael,
Loomes, Sarah,
Claridge, Caroline,
Claridge, Mary,
Hawiatt, Folger

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Leighton Buzzard Leck Street, breaking & entering, confectioner, grocer, postal service, postman, malster