QSR1843/3/5/10

Depositions and examination - Robert Rooker charged with stealing one leathern purse, 2 half sovereigns and 13 shillings from Henry Franklin

8 May 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

Henry Franklin of Toddington, carman - on Thursday 4 May he went to a windmill at Leighton Buzzard (late Clew's but now Perkins's as he is informed) to fetch a sack of flour for his son. He pulled out his purse to pay for the grinding and believes he laid it on a sack in the mill and left it there. It was a leathern purse and is the one now produced. When he left it at the mill his purse contained 2 half sovereigns, 13 shillings and another 6 shillings in silver. He did not miss his purse until the next morning when he went to the mill at Leighton Buzzard to enquire for it. Rooker was at the mill when he was there on Thursday but not on Friday. The miller said he would enquire about it. George Thurlow of Leighton Buzzard, police constable - Mr Perkins the owner fo the mill sent for him on Saturday and told him of Franklin's loss and that he suspected Rooker. He went with police constable John Chapman to Mr Clarideges Mill. He found Rooker there. He told him he had come to take him into custody on suspicion of stealing a purse. Rooker said he knew nothing about it. He searched Rooker but did not find either purse or money. Rooker asked to be allowed to go to the first floor of the mill to get some victuals he had there. He followed Rooker and saw him take some bread off a sack and at the same time saw something fall from his hand towards the floor. PC Chapman who had remained below called out that something had come down the flour shoot, which was close to where Rooker was standing. He went down and Chapman unhooked the mouth of the flour shoot. The purse dropped out. It contained 2 half sovereigns and 13 shillings in silver. When the purse was Rooker said "now the man will have it again". He cautioned Rooker, who then said "I found the purse on the mill floor and have spent 18 pence". John Chapman of Leighton Buzzard, police constable -he went with Thurlow to Mr Claridge's mill. He helped to search Rooker and heard him deny any knowledge of the purse or money. Rooker wen to the next floor of the mill and Thurlow followed him. He saw something directly afterward come down the flour shoot which he found to be the purse. He heard Rooker say "now the man will have it again". Thurlow cautioned him and Rooker said "I found the purse on the mill floor and have spent 18 pence". Robert Rooker - he picked up the purse on the bottom floor of the windmill. He is sorry it happened so.

item

Rooker, Robert,
Franklin, Henry,
Thurlow, George,
Chapman, John,
Clews,
Perkins,
Claridge

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, TODDINGTON, stealing, money, windmills, MILLS, miller, carman, police constable