QSR1853/3/5/9

William Hobbs, labourer of Woburn, William Clough, police sergeant at Hockcliffe, and Susan Bell, wife of William,licensed victualler of Woburn. In the case of John Line accused of stealing a tumbler glass.

5 May 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

[Originally Thomas Palmer was all accused] Susan Bell: wife of William who kept the Oak public house in Woburn. On the evening of 2 May, 2 prisoners came into her husbands tap room and then went into the parlour where bagatelle was playing. There were 3 people there beside the men. Some ale was carried into the room and 2 tumblers. One of the men partook of bagatelle and beer, and they continued playing for about an hour. She went to take in more ale and missed a tumbler. She asked the people about the missing tumbler and if it had been broken. She told it was not broken and they knew not where it was. One of the prisoner said she could search him and the other said nothing. She found no fragments of glass. The prisoners wanted a bed for the night but she could not help them. The men left about half past 10 and nothing was said about the glass. She knew the other men in the bar well and did not suspect them of taking the tumbler. She suspected the prisoners. When later shown the tumbler, she believed it to be her husband’s property but she could not swear to it. William Hobbs: lived at Woburn and was in the employ of Mr Whitlock, a timber merchant. On the evening of 8 May he went to the public house with the prisoner John Line. They played bagatelle and had a quart jug of ale. 2 tumblers were brought in by Mrs Bell. They drank and played bagatelle for about an hour and then Mrs Bell enquired about her tumbler. She did not accused anyone, merely said it was gone. They all left the parlour and went into the tap room. He then saw the other prisoner Palmer. He man with him, besides the prisoner, was a book seller who travelled about the country and came to Woburn about every 3 weeks. He was known to be a respectable man and was staying at the house. Hobbs left after the prisoners and went home. He had not particularly noticed the tumbler. William Clough: a police sergeant stationed at Hockcliffe. On 3 May he saw the prisoners at Leighton. They were in the company of a constable accused of passing false coin. Line was searched and the glass found in his trouser pocket. Line said he was given it by a man he'd met that morning on the road. The glass was given to the Superintendent. When the prisoners advised him they had slept in Woburn the previous night, he suspected the glass stolen.Statement of the accused - John Line: he had been 3/4 of a mile out of Woburn that morning when he met a man who gave him the glass, in order the he may obtain payment for it.

item

Line, John,
Hobbs, William,
Bell, William,
Bell, Susan,
Clough, William,
Palmer, Thomas,
Whitlock

stealing, glass, WOBURN, Northampton, Hockcliffe, licensed victualler, sawyer, Woburn Royal Oak, bagatelle, timber merchant, book seller