QSR1875/1/5/8

Depositions and examination - Arthur Champkin charged with stealing one basin and one pudding from his master Mark Rest at Dunstable on 24 December

30 December 1874

From: 1874 To: 1875

Mark Rest – he keeps the Saracens head Inn. On 24 December he prepared a Xmas dinner given by Mrs Hicks at the infant school room. There were several large plum puddings left. Champkin stood outside the school room while the dinner things were being taken away. He asked Champkin to help. Amongst other things he gave a pudding into Champkin’s hands. It had been given to him or his wife by Mrs Hicks. He left Champkin holding it up for the ostler in the cart to take. The ostler was busy putting the things into a basket as they were handed up. He went backwards and forwards into the schoolroom. In consequence of something he heard after he got home he sent for Champkin and asked what had become of the pudding. Champkin declared with an oath that he had not seen it at all. He asked Champkin to wait until he had sent for the charwoman. Champkin sat down, then got up again, said he was not going to waste his time and walked out. He followed him and sent his ostler for the police. Champkin turned abruptly out of the High Street down Church Alley, ran and turned into Church Street and then into Markham’s yard. He heard Champkin’s voice in a house. He tried to open the door and ultimately succeeded and pushed Champkin on the floor as he was visiting him inside. He asked where the pudding was. Champkin told him to find it and look for it. He followed Champkin into a bedroom. Afterwards he took Champkin with him and went out to look for the police. Champkin stopped for some time in the Butts against Mr Benning’s wall. He left Champkin at the police station but did not give him in charge. [Cross-examined] The pudding was in a basin covered up. Champkin could not have seen it as he gave it to him, but he told him to take care of the pudding. William Stokes – he is Mr Rest’s ostler. On 24th he was loading some things after the dinner. Champkin helped up pans and empty basins. He did not hear anything said about a pudding and did not see one. A charwoman at Mr Rest’s helped him to unload the cart. William Addington – on 24th between 10 and 11pm he went to the schoolroom and then to the Church Yard round the corner towards the entrance to the Church. Over the wall he found an impression in the snow of a basin. On examining the place he found footmarks leading behind a tombstone where there were other impressions of the same sized basin and some fragments of pudding and a piece of string. The marks were such as would be made by a person getting over the wall behind the schoolroom. They led from the tombstone over the wall into Church Street. The footmarks were of a pair of tipped and nailed shoes. On the 26th he apprehended Champkin and charged him. Champkin’s boots correspond with the impressions in the church yard. Champkin denied having seen or had a pudding. Benjamin George – on 24th he saw Champkin at the police station when in consequence of Mr Rest declining to give Champkin in charge he was liberated and afterwards apprehended. He has examined the footmarks in the Church Yard and compared them with Champkin’s boots. They correspond exactly. He produces a cast he took from a footmark near the gravestone where the string was found and also produces Champkin’s right boot. Mark Rest recalled – he values the pudding and basin at about 8s. His ostler and boy were present when the pudding was taken out. Champkin had often helped him before. William Addington recalled – it was 1am when he found the footprints. There were marks of traffic to where the impression of the basin was found leading from the schoolroom. Henry Tofield, police constable – about 1am he found the print of a basin and the footmarks with Addington. There were also some pieces of pudding and a piece of string with three knots which he produces. On 26th he assisted in apprehending Champkin. At the police station he looked at Champkin’s shoes and on Sunday night with Superintendent George he compared them with the footprints. He can swear the right book produced made the impressions of the right footmarks. Esther Parkins – her husband is a labourer living at Dunstable. After the dinner was over she tied 4 puddings up each in calico and with pieces of string similar to the piece produced. She went to assist the ostler unload. There was no pudding there. Mrs Hicks had taken 3 of the 4 puddings away. Benjamin George recalled – he found the impressions corresponded to that of the basin he produces which is one he borrowed [which was] used for making the puddings. Arthur Champkin – he is not guilty.

item

Champkin, Arthur,
Rest, Mark,
Addington, William,
Stokes, William,
George, Benjamin,
Tofield, Henry,
Parkins, Esther,
Hicks,
Markham,
Benning

DUNSTABLE, stealing, puddings, Christmas, publican, ostler, Dunstable Saracens Head, infant schools, charwoman