QSR1843/2/5/4-5

Depositons and examinations - William Higgins and Thomas Manton

15 March 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

James Phillips of Ampthill, chemist and druggist - on Tuesday 14 March he missed three brass taps, one large one and 2 plugs from a drawer in the laboratory and 2 steam taps from the engine room. He searched at the shops of purchasers of old metal and found the property he had lost at Mr Coleman's, dealer, Ampthill. He also found there several pieces of brass which he had not missed which belonged to his steam engine. Charles Walsh, police constable no.11 - he accompanied Mr Phillips that afternoon to search Mr Coleman's warehouse where they found the property now produced. George Hill - he is shopman to Mr Coleman, grocer of Ampthill. His master buys old metal. Thomas Manton has been in the habit for some time of bringing scrap to them. He can postively swear that the brass Mr Phillips owned on searching his master's premises was brought by Manton. Edward Brown - he was drinking at Ward's beer shop in Ampthill one Saturday evening about a month or 6 weeks ago, and Thomas Manton told him that Will Higgins was getting some brass from Mr Phillips's. He said he was a foolish chap as he had got a constant place. He understood that by "getting" he meant "stealing". William Higgins - about Christmas Thomas Manton asked him if he knew where he could get him some bits of brass as he could sell them at Mr Coleman's. He knew that he meant stealing. He told Manton he could. He has stolen brass from Mr Phillips 6 or 7 times but Manton has never given him more than a shilling for a lot. Manton once gave him as little as 2 1/4. The last time he gave him 1s. Thomas Manton - nothing to say.

item

Higgins, William,
Manton, Thomas,
Phillips, James,
Walsh, Charles,
Hill, George,
Brown, Edward,
Coleman,
Ward

AMPTHILL, stealing, chemist, druggist, steam engines, scrap merchant, beer houses