QSR1880/4/5/9

Florence Fensome, of Dunstable, Rebecca Janes, spinster, William Addington, police sergeant, Caroline Clifton, a married woman of Dunstable and William Stapleton, labourer of Dunstable. In the case of Arthur Champkin accused of breaking & entering a dwelling house and stealing a silver watch

23 September 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

William Stapleton: a labourer living in Dunstable. After breakfast on 23 September he left 2 watches in the front room downstairs. One on the mantle piece and the other hung up. He locked the door and windows. On retuning he missed the watch and chain that were hanging up and found the glass of the window in the back room had been broken. He found some small articles had been pushed to the ground from the window sill. His drawers had been forced and the content s disturbed. He informed the sergeant. [cross examination] the prisoner had no reason to come to his home. He had not told him he wanted to sell a gun or watch. He had not told the prisoner that if he could find a customer for the watch he was to come and fetch it. Rebecca Janes: a singlewoman living next door to the prosecutor. She saw the prisoner on the evening of 23 September, near the prisoner’s house. He had some tools. Florence Fensome: lived with her father opposite the prosecutor’s house. On 23 September she saw the prisoner coming up the street and stand by the side of the prosecutors house. He called to some men in Mr Radwell’s field. He went through the gate to the back of the house. Caroline Clifton: keeper of a pawnbroker shop in Church Street. She received a watch from the prisoner and gave him a ticket. William Addington: on 23 September, he went to the prosecutor’s house and found the back window to be broken and a chest of drawer disarranged. He apprehended the prisoner. Next morning he examined the window and found the lead had been turned back, and he noticed to impression in the lad which matched the prisoner’s knife. He also noticed marks as if someone entered. He received a pawnbroker’s ticket from the prisoner’s mother. Statement of the accused –Arthur Champkin: Stapleton asked him to sell his watch. Anything over a pound he was to keep for himself. He told him he would do so if he could and went to fetch the watch, he did not steal it. Stepleton told him to fetch the watch should he find a customer. He went in through the front door and did not break a window, he told Stapleton he had been and fetched the watch, and that he had not seen the buyer yet but when he had he would give him the money. He spent half a day trying to sell it but could not so pawned it for 8s 6d. He expected that Stapleton had heard he was getting worse for drink with the money and put the matter in the policeman’s hands.

8 pages - 1st page damaged

item

Champkin, Arthur,
Fensome, Florence,
Janes, Rebecca,
Addington, William,
Clifton, Caroline,
Stapleton, William

DUNSTABLE, breaking & entering, watches