QSR1843/3/5/23-24

Depositions and examinations - Samuel Hewlat and Joseph Coleman

13 May 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

John White of Cardington, farmer - on Monday and Tuesday 1 & 2 May Hewlat and Coleman were at work for him in Cardington shearing sheep. They were to be paid 3s per score of sheep shorn and two pints of beer a day. On Wednesday morning about 9am the policeman Tilyard came to him and produced about 2 1/2 lbs of wool. It appeared to have been wrapped around shears and to consist of parts of different fleeces. He could not tell whether it was his property or not. He believes Hewlat was then in custody. At about 11am he saw Tilyard apprehend Coleman. He accompanied them to Mr Livius's where the policeman produced another pound of wool. When apprehended Coleman was still shearing for him. Tilyard said in Coleman's hearing that he had taken the parcel he then produced from Coleman's bag. He believes all three parcels of wool are his property but cannot swear to them. At Mr Livius's he heard Coleman say the wool was his. It is very good Leicester shearling wool, worth about 10d a pound. He never allowed any of his employees any wool by way of perquisite, but they are allowed a small quantity just sufficient to wrap around the shears to make them safe. Thomas Tilyard, constable no.4 - on Tuesday May 2 he was on duty at Oakley about 6 miles or more from Cardington and met Samuel Hewlat. Seeing his pockets sticking out he stopped him and asked where he had been. he said he had been shearing sheep for Mr White at Cardington. He asked what Hewlat had in his pocket. Hewlat did not answer. He searched Hewlat and took 2 1/2 lbs of wool from his pockets. He asked what Hewlat was going to do with it - he said Coleman had given it to him to take home. He asked where Coleman lived. Hewlat said in Bedford, but he must find out where. Hewlat said he had got the wool from Mr White's, that he was allowed it and Mr White saw him with it, and that it was the winding of the shears for two days, two winds a day. He told Hewlat he would take him to Bedford and lock him up on suspicion of stealing wool. Hewlat said it was the first time he had been in trouble. On the way to Bedford he asked again where Coleman lived. Hewlat said Coleman was his master and had paid him and had nothing further to do with it, that he had got him [Hewlat] and that was enough. He asked if it was Mr White's at the mill and he said it was - there are two Mr White's in Cardington, Thomas White at the mill and John White. The next morning having ascertained that Thomas White at the mill had not had any sheep shorn he went to Mr John White and produced the wool found on Hewlat and ascertained that both prisoners had been shearing for him. After that he went to where Coleman was shearing and asked if he had been with Hewlat the previous night. He said "yes I supped there". He asked if Coleman gave Hewlat any wool. Coleman said he did. He asked if it was as much as 2lbs. Coleman said "oh, nothing near that". He showed Coleman the wool he had taken from Hewlat and asked if he gave him that quantity - he said he did not. He searched Coleman's coat pocket and found his shears wrapped in a quantity of wool in the same state in which they are now produced. He asked Mr White if he allowed it and he said he did not. He then apprehended Coleman and took him and Hewlat to Mr Livius's where he heard Coleman say he had the wool from Mr White's and there was not more winding on the shears than there might be. George Sharp, constable no.2 - he was in company with Tilyard on the night of 2 May when they met Hewlat and found the wool on him. What Tilyard has stated is true. He came to Bedford with Tilyard and Hewlat. While Tilyard was gone for the key of the cage Hewlat ran away from him. He pursued him and caught him after about 400 yards. Hewlat said it was the first time he had done anything and it was a bad job. The next day he went to search Coleman's house in Bedford and found the wool he now produces, weighing about 7 1/2 lbs. He found part in his bedroom and part in the attic. The greater portion appears to have been wound round shears. He found the three pairs of shears he now produces in Coleman's bedroom with a small quantity of wool wound round the points the way they are usually wound. Coombs the chief constable was with him. He later accompanied Tilyard and the prisoners to Mr Livius's where he produced the wool found in Coleman's house. He heard Coleman say that part of it came from Mr White's but not all of it. He also found at Coleman's a quantity of wool in a pillow case which he produces, but that is a different quality to the other wool. Henry Ison Jebbett, superintendent of police - on Wednesday 3 May he went to Hewlat's lodgings at Pavenham and searched both his rooms. In his bedroom he found the wool now produced weighing 1 3/4 lbs. It appears to be the same quality as the wool produced by Sharp and Tilyard. From the oily state of it, it appears to be this year's wool. Samuel Hewlat - he has nothing to say. There is a witness, Louisa Glover, who knows some of the wool produced by Mr Jebbett has been in the house for 2 years. Joseph Coleman - declines to say anything.

item

Hewlat, Samuel,
Coleman, Joseph,
White, John,
Tilyard, Thomas,
Sharp, George,
Jebbett, Henry Ison,
White, Thomas,
Glover, Louisa

CARDINGTON, OAKLEY, BEDFORD, PAVENHAM, stealing, wool, sheep, farmer, police constable, police superintendent, parish cages