Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1871/1/5/4-5/a
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - Joseph Mayes charged with stealing a roll of sheeting value £1 7s 9d from Alfred Holmes of Dunstable, draper, on 5 November 1870
  • Date free text
    16 November 1870
  • Production date
    From: 1870 To: 1871
  • Scope and Content
    Ezra Smith – he is apprentice to Mr Holmes, draper of Dunstable. He saw the roll produced at about 8pm on 5 November standing at Mr Holmes’s door. He missed it about 10 minutes later and told Mr Holmes. Septimus Franklin of Dunstable, tailor – he saw a man like the prisoner with a roll like the one produced opposite the White Horse, Church Street. The man was going away from Mr Holmes’ shop towards the Railway Station. It was between 8 and 9pm on 5 November. The man fell down, got up again and ran down towards the station. William Bowden, railway porter at Church Street Station – he remembers seeing the roll on the platform at the station about 9.50 on 5 November. He saw the prisoner sitting there at the same time. He took the roll and locked it up under orders from the station master. He saw the prisoner get into the train. The roll was locked up about 5 minutes before the train came. He later gave it to the police. William Addington, police sergeant of Dunstable – he received information of a robbery and later ascertained the calico stolen was at the railway station. He received the calico from Bowden about 11pm. Mr Holmes identified it on 11 November. He apprehended the prisoner on a warrant and read the charge to him. Mayes asked if he had seen the other man and said “I should not have come to Dunstable but for him”. Mayes pointed out where he fell down opposite the White Horse in Church Street and said he cut his arm in two places. Mayes admitted carrying the roll down the street. Alfred Holmes of Dunstable, draper – he identifies the roll. There are 88 ¼ yards and the value is £1 7s 9d. [Annotated: “The prisoner was again remanded from the 23rd to 25th November to await the trial of an accomplice”] Joseph Mayes - he would like it tried there.
  • Level of description
    item
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