QSR1871/1/5/3/a

Depositions of George Mardlin, Thomas Shelton and Rebecca Puttman - James Drage found by night in the dwelling house of William Bithrey at Turvey on 29 October 1870 with intent to commit felony

5 November 1870

From: 1870 To: 1871

Thomas Shelton of Turvey - he occupies 2 rooms in Mr Bithrey’s house. Mr Bithrey is a very aged man and unable to walk. On Saturday 29 October he was leaving Mr Bithrey’s apartment about 10.30. Mr Bithrey’s granddaughter followed him with a light to his room. As he entered he saw a man lying on the sofa. He ran back to Mr Bithrey’s apartment with his granddaguther. They called in some neighbours. John Harley and Thomas Collins came and a man named Thomas Hutt who was lodging in the house. Hutt, Harley and himself went to the parlour and saw nobody on the sofa. Harley pulled up a cloth overlying the sofa. James Drage was concealed under the sofa. Harley and Hutt drew him out into Mr Bithrey’s apartment. Mr Bithrey sent for Mardlin. Drage resisted and was held by Harley, Hutt and Collins. Mardlin took him and warned him he would strike him if he would not be obedient. Drage said he had been drinking and asked who a man should know where he is when drunk. They searched him and found nothing that did not belong to him. Rebecca Putnam - she lives with her grandparents Mr and Mrs Bithrey at Turvey. About 10.40pm on Saturday she followed Shelton to his room with a light. When he got to the door they saw a man lying on the sofa. It was Drage dressed as he is now. She went for help and came back with John Harley who was lodging in the house. Drage was found concealed under the sofa cover. She found 2 pieces of matches about the room on Sunday and one yesterday, burnt down quite short. They were the same sort they have in the house, but the room had been swept out perfectly clean that Saturday. George Mardlin, police constable - last Saturday night he went to the Bithreys and found Drage struggling with some men in the Bithreys’ shop. Drage was very violent, kicking and trying to make his escape. He told Drage to be quiet. Drage said "It’s them b--- I should have got away if it had not been for them". He told Drage he would take him into custody on a charge of being there with intent to commit a felony. Drage said “how’s a man to know where he goes when he is drunk”. He said Drage didn’t appear drunk. Drage said he had nothing that was not his own and showed him some money. With assistance he put the handcuffs on. Drage struck one of the men who assisted him. Drage said it was not the first time he had been handcuffed. He said "if I live to come out, I’ll come and do for some of you - I’ve had 12 months before". He found some lucifer matchers on the prisoner.

item

Drage, James,
Bithrey, William,
Mardlin, George,
Shelton, Thomas,
Puttman, Rebecca,
Harley, John,
Collins, Thomas,
Hutt, Thomas

TURVEY, disability