QSR1843/3/5/11

Depositions and examination - Joseph Smith and John Kay

16 May 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

John Frederick Colebanks of St Paul Bedford, labourer - he is servant to John Harrington who keeps a beer house and a lodging house for travellers at the parish of St Paul in Bedford. He attends to the lodgings. On Sunday morning 14 May between 9 and 10am the prisoners came to Harrington's house. Joseph Smith asked for a needle and thread to sew up his trousers. He was in the kitchen. One of the lodgers lent him one and he went upstairs. After he had been upstairs about 1/4 hour he came down and said he would return to lodge at night. He went out with the other prisoner John Kay. About 6pm he went into his bedroom adjoining the common bedroom of the travellers and on opening his box found a waistcoat and a silk handkerchief had been taken from the box and a pair of trousers from the head of the bed. Yesterday morning he went in pursuit of the prisoners and at Newport Pagnell he learnt they had gone towards Stratford. Soon after he saw them in the custody of William Crisp, a constable of Newport Pagnell whom he had informed of the robbery. Last night Crisp brought the prisoners to Bedford. Joseph Smith had all the clothes on him that he lost. He asked Crsip why he took his things - Crisp said he had known they belonged to him he would not have taken them and that he could have taken more if he had liked. William Crisp of Newport Pagnell (Bucks), constable - from information received from Colebanks he apprehended the prisoners on a charge of stealing clothes at Bedford. Smith said he knew what he wanted. He had the trousers and waistcoat on under others and the handkerchief on his neck. Joseph Smith of St Paul Bedford, labourer - he was completely naked and took the clothes to cover himself.

item

Smith, Joseph,
Kay, John,
Colebanks, John Frederick,
Crisp, William

Bedford St.Paul, Newport Pagnell, stealing, clothing, beer houses, lodging houses