QSR1873/1/5/2

Depositions and examination - Thomas Lathwell of Eggington charged with stealing two woollen chest preservers or comforters and one pair of stockings from Jesse Pantling at Stanbridge on 22 November 1872

10 December 1872

From: 1872 To: 1873

Jesse Pantling of Eggington, hawker - Thomas Lathwell is his uncle. On Friday 22 November between 7 and 8pm they were together. He went into the Wheat Sheaf beer house at Stanbridge. Lathwell was then in the house. He left a perambulator outside and a basket containing hosiery. He fetched the basket and untied it. He sold a chest preserver to a man in the house for 1s 4d. He had beer with Lathwell and they left together. The next morning he untied the basked and missed 2 woollen comforters or chest preservers and a pair of stockings. He had tied them in when he left the beer house. On the way home he called at Mr Janes's at Stanbridge and Lathwell stayed outside. He left the basket outside. When they got home Lathwell asked him if he was going to bed. Lathwell said he had a pair of boots for him to inspect and asked if he [Pantling] could get him a customer. He refused to buy the boots. When he missed the articles on Saturday morning he went to Mr Janes's. He ran across a postman named Dearman and told him of his loss. Dearman later called out to him and held up and showed him a stocking like one of those he had lost. He called at Janes's again and told him he had found one of the stockings. He gave information to the police and Lathwell was taken into custody. The two comforters produced are the ones he lost. There were tickets on them which are now off. The stocking is of the same description as the one he lost. The basket produced is his. The goods in the basket were under a cover. [Cross-examined] He was quite sober when he went into the Wheat Sheaf. He had a little drink but knew what he was about. He did not toss for 4 pots of beer. He called for 3 pints. Other people drank out of them. He offered the comforters and stockings for sale. He offered the comforters for 1/10 the pair not 1/4. He lent Lathwell money at the Wheatsheaf. Lathwell lives close to him. He was sober when he called at Janes's, not downright drunk. On the Saturday morning he asked Janes if he was at his house the day before. He did know he had been there. He did not tell Janes he was drunk. He said he had had a little drink and they took advantage of him. He dropped his pipe. He did not pick it up or ask anyone to pick it up. He did not ask Lathwell to buy the comforters or say they would be good for his wife and child. He did not offer it for 1/4 and say he could pay when he repaid the 2/-. Lathwell and he have assisted each other at times. A man named Munday went with them as far as Janes's. He did tell Janes he had lost a stocking. He went close by where the stocking was found. He did not tell Supt Clough he had sold a comforter to the landlady. He said he sold one to Mashford. John Ellingham of Stanbridge, keeper of a retail beer house - Pantling and Lathwell were at his house on Friday night. Pantling had some comforters to sell. He sold one to a man named Mashford for 1/4. Pantling produced other comforters at the same time. He said Mashford might have two others at the same price. Pantling sold a pair of stockings and put others and the 2 comforters in his basket. Pantling had some beer but was not drunk. [Cross-examined] Pantling seemed perfectly sober when he came in. Pantling had one pint of beer in his house and his wife bought him one. Pantling was at his house about an hour and a half. He drew a pint or two for Lathwell, he can't say how many. Pantling went away straight as if he was sober. He believes Pantling was capable of taking care of his things and himself. John Dearman of Leighton Buzzard, postman - on Saturday morning 23 November about 7.45am he saw Pantling coming up Stanbridge Hill. They went to Stanbridge together. He delivered letters to Mr Labrum and Pantling went on. Pantling told him of his loss. He picked up a stocking outside Mr Janes's house. He called after Pantling and showed him the stocking. Pantling was quite sober on the Saturday morning and did not have the appearance of a man who had been drinking overnight. Enos Munday of Eggington, labourer - he saw Pantling at the Wheat Sheaf. Pantling had plenty to drink and wanted some more. Pantling was there 2 hours and more. He did not toss for any beer. He left with Pantling, who walked very well but not very straight. Pantling offered comforters for sale in the house and sold one for 1s 4d. Lathwell was there all the time. He was at the Wheat Sheaf for 3 hours. He came home pretty well, not the worse for beer. He and Pantling drank together. He paid for 2 pints. [Cross-examined] Pantling never offered the comforters for 1s 10d. William Mashford of Stanbridge, labourer - he was at the Wheat Sheaf and bought a comforter from Pantling for 1s 4d. Pantling offered two others at the same price. Pantling was none the worse for drink when he came in. He drank with Pantling. He was there about 2 hours. He had 2 pints. James Giltrow of Stanbridge, labourer - he saw Pantling and Lathwell at the Wheat Sheaf. They were both sober enough for business. He bought goods from Pantling. He did not see them leave. Pantling tried to sell comforters but did not sell any Lathwell. Pantling tied his basket down before he left and put comforters in. He saw some stockings. Pantling and Lathwell were drinking together. Thomas Batchelor, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard - on Saturday morning he received information from Pantling that he had lost 2 comforters and a pair of stockings from his basket. Pantling thought they were taken out against Janes's gateway as the postman had picked up a stocking there that morning. He went to Eggington with Pantling. They went to Lathwell's and saw his wife. She said her husband only brought home meat with him the preceding night. She said she saw no chest preservers or stockings. She refused to let him go over the house. She then opened a downstairs drawer. He took the 2 chest preservers and stocking out of the drawer which he produced. Pantling identified them as his. He apprehended Lathwell at work. Lathwell said he bought the comforters for his children and gave them to his wife. He saw Pantling and Lathwell together on the Friday night. They were both the worse for drink. [Cross-examined] Pantling asked him to go across and have some drink. He refused. Lathwell never said he should find the comforters in his house. Pantling did not say he had lent any money to Lathwell. Thomas Lathwell - "I am not guilty" Witnesses for the defence ------------------------------- Frederick Janes of Stanbridge, butcher - on Friday night he was informed Pantling came to his house. His wife saw Pantling. There was nobody with Pantling that he knew of. On Saturday morning Pantling came again and asked if he came to his house the previous night, who was with him, and what he did there. Pantling said he had lost things out of his basket but did not know what. He told Pantling it served him right. Pantling said "I am such a fool when I get like this I throw my things anywhere". He does not believe Pantling was sober when he saw him on Saturday morning. Pantling wanted to fight him then. Rebecca, wife of Frederick Janes - about 10pm on Friday Pantling came to her house, she does not know what for. He was drunk. She has no doubt of it. He dropped his pipe and she picked it up. He lent against the door post. He asked if Fred was at home. He talked like a drunken man. She saw him the next morning. He said "I have got the stocking what was picked up against the gate and this will prove what became of them.". He did not look like a sober man then. He said "you know when I have had beer you know how I go on". He offered to fight her husband who told him he ought to have a good thrashing. George Abraham of Stanbridge, labourer - on Saturday morning he was in Janes's yard. Pantling said "I am always foolish when I have had drink". Pantling asked Janes if he came there the previous night. Pantling wanted to fight Janes. Janes said he ought to have a good thrashing for getting drunk and going on. Pantling did not appear very sober. Elizabeth Lathwell of Eggington, daughter of the prisoner - she is 16 years old. On 22 November she was at home when her father came home at 10.40pm. He brought home 2 crossovers, the ones produced, but no stocking. He said they were for Harriet and her. He said he had bought them from Pantling for 8d a piece. She put them in the drawer in her mother's presence. She sat up because her father had not come home. She seldom goes to bed before her mother, who was not gone to bed.

item

Lathwell, Thomas,
Pantling, Jesse,
Ellingham, John,
Dearman, John,
Munday, Enos,
Mashford, William,
Giltrow, James,
Batchelor, Thomas,
Janes, Frederick,
Janes, Rebecca,
Abraham, George,
Lathwell, Elizabeth

EGGINGTON, STANBRIDGE, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, clothing, hawker, beer retailer, postman, police constable, butcher, Stanbridge Wheatsheaf