QSR1875/4/5/8

Depositions and examination - Arthur Chessum, charged with stealing one watch and chain with appendages value £20 from George Buckingham at Biggleswade on 15 September 1875

22 September 1875

From: 1875 To: 1875

George Buckingham of Bigglesade, timekeeper for the Great Northern Railway Company – on Wednesday September 15th he was going down the street in front of the White Hart Inn at the corner of Station Road between 9 and 10pm. He saw Mary Ann Austin and Ann Chamberlain, and Arthur Chessum was either in their company or very close to them. One of the females asked what he would stand. He replied “a pot of 6d ale” which was called for and brought, and of which they all 4 partook. Chessum then fetched a pot of 4d ale. They were standing just outside the White Hart. They all 4 drank some and while doing so Chessum entered into conversation with him. Chessum began to reel about a little and passed his arm round him, evidently for support. He believes he put his arm round Chessum. A walk was proposed down the street, he believes by himself. The walked 4 abreast down the street. He believes a female was on each side of him and Chessum on the right of all. He had been drinking a little. When near the Half Moon public house some question arose as to the time. He place his hand to his left hand upper waistcoat pocket and missed his watch and chain. He had last seen it safely there about 9pm that day. The watch and chain now produced is the same. He wore it with the bar through a button hole. It is worth £20. He said his watch was stolen. Chessum made some remark which he did not hear and made off. Chessum walked very quickly. He gave information to the police. He was in Chessum’s company outside the White Hart for about ¼ hour. Chessum had evidently been drinking. When Chessum clung to him for support he thought he was much more intoxicated than he really was, because he had no difficulty walking down the street afterwards. [Cross-examined] He was not in company with the 2 girls before he saw Chessum. He knows them by sight but nothing more. He had no beer at the Half Moon nor anywhere else. He might have be been with them altogether nearly ¾ hour. He did not go with them anywhere and they did not interfere with him. They did not run away. He conveyed the women towards the station, thinking one of them might have it. He did the best he could to get back his property. Eli Bayes of Biggleswade, police constable – he went with PC Cain about 12pm to Arthur Chessum’s lodgings on the Potton Road. He called him up and asked to speak to him respecting a watch that a girl named Chamberlain had been accused of stealing. He told Chessum he believed the man was a foreman on the railway. He said Chessum must know something about it as he was outside the White Hart with them. Chessum made no answer but came downstairs (he had been talking to him from an upstairs window). Chessum let him in and gave him the watch and chain from off a table or chest standing near the door. He asked how Chessum came to have possession of it. Chessum said he found it in his breast coat pocket. Chessum went upstairs, dressed and came with him to the station. On the road they came up with Buckingham, who remarked “that’s the man”. When Chessum came downstairs he had the appearance of a man who had been drinking, but he walked with him very well to the station. Annie Chamberlain of Biggleswade, singlewoman – she and Mary Ann Austin were out walking together on 15 September and met Buckingham near Mr Stevens’. They asked him if he would stand a pint of beer. He said he did not mind. They went to the White Hart. Chessum came out when they were drinking the ale and had some. After that Buckingham and Chessum went to the White Hart and called for another quart of 6d le. While they were drinking this Chessum and Buckingham stood away from them talking together. Chessum then took the jug and glass into the inn. After that she and Mary Ann Austin went down the street one on each side of Chessum. Buckingham was 3 or 4 yards behind them and caught them up between the billiard room and the Half Moon. Chessum stopped and talked to him. They walked on to the Half Moon. Buckingham came up and caught hold of her and accused her of taking his watch. Chessum was with them. She asked Buckingham what he meant. Buckingham said he would give her in charge. She told him she had not seen his watch. Chessum went away and said he would go and find a policeman. She and Austin went up the street with Buckingham intending to go to the police station. They met Chessum opposite the Crown and they all 4 went up as far as the corner of the Station Road. Buckingham began pulling her about and tore her clothes. She told him she was willing to go without being pulled about. He would not let go of her. Chessum came and broke them loose. She went away and Austin went with her. Chessum was left with Buckingham in Station Road. [Cross-examined] She works at Mr Albone’s cutting onions. Chessum came out of the White Hart directly they called for the beer. She swears they did not run away when Buckingham accused her of stealing the watch. She swears that Chessum came out of the White Hart directly they got there. Mary Ann Austin of Biggleswade, singlewoman – she was with Ann Chamberlain on 15th and Arthur Chessum and Buckingham were with them. She did not see Buckingham’s watch until she saw it at the police station. Samuel Munsey of Biggleswade, labourer – he saw Mary Ann Austin and Ann Chamberlain walking with Buckingham and Chessum, coming from the Church towards the police station all in a row. Afterwards he saw the two women run away past him as he was standing by the Crown. Chessum came up to him directly after and said he was going to show Buckingham the way to the police station. He later saw the two women on Chapel fields the same night. He told them they had run away and they denied it. Buckingham seemed to have had a little drink and Chessum was much the worse for drink. Arthur Chessum – he reserves his defence.

item

Chessum, Arthur,
Buckingham, George,
Bayes, Eli,
Chamberlain, Annie,
Austin, Mary Ann,
Munsey, Samuel,
Great Northern Railway Company

BIGGLESWADE, Biggleswade Station Road, pickpocket, watches, timekeeper, police constable, Biggleswade White Hart, Biggleswade Half Moon, Biggleswade Crown, beer, onions, drunkenness