QSR1876/3/5/6

Depositions and examination =- Robert Chamberlain the younger, charged with stealing one coat, one cap and one pair of gloves value £1 from John Charles Cleverley at Tempsford on 13 May 1876

17 May 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

John Charles Cleverley of St Neots, banker’s clerk – on Saturday 13 May he went for a sail in a boat from St Neots to Tempsford with two friends. They reached Tempsford Lock about 6.30pm and tied the boat to a post below the Locks. They left it with their coats and a few other articles including a cricket cap and gloves. The coat, cap and gloves produced by PC Billington are his and were left in the boat. About 7.30pm they returned to the boat and missed these articles. They are worth £1. James Barcock of Tempsford, labourer – on 13 May he saw Robert Chamberlain against a boat just below the staunch at Tempsford Lock about 6.20pm. He had a dark coat hanging over his left arm. He asked how Chamberlain was getting on. Chamberlain said “all right how are you”, then went off towards his house. He was about 30 yards away from Chamberlain. He has known Chamberlain for 3 years. [Cross-examined] He never measured across the river. Chamberlain was half a chain below the staunch when he saw him. Joseph Billington of Eaton Socon, police constable – on Monday 15 May about 11.30am he went with PC Stock to Chamberlain’s house at Roxton. Only the river divided this house from Tempsford parish. He called Chamberlain out and asked what he had done with the coat he took from the boat. He told Chamberlain he had a witness to prove it. Chamberlain denied seeing a boat against Tempsford Lock and said the only boat he saw that day was going up the river with some people in it. Chamberlain started using bad language and said “Find the bloody coat if you can”. He asked Chamberlain to walk into his house. Chamberlain did so and he followed him in. He had seen Chamberlain’s wife in the cottage but she was not there when he followed him it. He went through the kitchen into the garden and met Chamberlain’s wife coming from direction of the privy. He found the coat, cap and gloves in a sack in the privy. He charged Chamberlain with stealing them. He and PC stock took Chamberlain into custody. Chamberlain resisted violently. On the way to Tempsford Chamberlain said he would go quietly because he was innocent and had found the coat on the side of the river. Robert Chamberlain the younger – reserves his defence and does not want to call witnesses.

item

Chamberlain, Robert,
Cleverley, John Charles,
Barcock, James,
Billington, Joseph

TEMPSFORD, St Neots, EATON SOCON, ROXTON, stealing, coat, clothing, bank clerk, police constable, boats