QSR1843/4/5/12

Depositions - John McDougall, charged with stealing a spirit level, a painter's stopping knife and two painter's brushes

18 August 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

John Purser of Leighton Buzzard, plumber, glazier and painter - yesterday August 17 McDougall, who was a stranger to him, came and asked him for a job. He said he did not have a job for him. McDougall said he was suffering from want of food. He gave him some bread, meat and beer. While eating he said it was the first food he had since the morning before. He then said he would give McDougall a day or two's work as he was so hard up. McDougall went to work in his shop and in half an hour dinner was ready. He took McDougall into his house to have some and after dinner McDougall went to work in the shop again for about two hours. During this time he was called out and McDougall was left alone. His son had also been working in the shop but was absent just at the time he was gone. McDougall came to him in the house and said he wanted to go and look for lodgings. He recommended somewhere to go and told him to be back in half and hour. In about an hour he noticed McDougall had not returned. His son Richard then missed his stopping knife. His apprentice Cook also missed his stopping knife (his own property) and he missed his spirit level and some brushes they call dusters. He got the assistance of Constable Sherwood and went in search of McDougall. They found him near Dagnall (Bucks), about 7 miles away. Sherwood searched him and found 2 stopping knives, a spirit level and two brushes, all his except one of the stopping knives which belongs to William Cook. The brushes have his particular mark on them. The spirit level is marked with his name. The knives are not marked. John Purser the younger - he is son of the prosecutor. He saw McDougall in his father's shop. He saw him take the spirit level off the shelf. McDougall asked how much it was worth. McDougall laid it on the board and did not put it back on the shelf. He saw both the knives in the shop at about 1pm. He went out about 2.30 leaving his father and McDougall in the shop. When he came back McDougall was gone. James Sherwood, parish constable of Leighton - yesterday he went in pursuit of McDougall and took him into custody at Dagnall. He searched him and found 2 painter's stopping knives, a spirit level and 2 brushes. The prosecutor claimed them all except one knife he said belonged to his apprentice.

item

McDougall, John,
Purser, John,
Sherwood, James,
Cook, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Dagnall, painter, plumber, glazier, stealing, tools