QSR1876/4/5/10

Depositions and examination - Richard William Webb of Leighton Buzzard, charged wtih stealing one bicycle value £10 10s from Hyla Edward Dightam at Leighton Buzzard on 14 August 1876

22 August 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

Hyla Edward Dightam of Leighton Buzzard, general mechanic – on 14 August Webb came to his shop in Lamsey Street at about 12pm and asked for a 50 inch bicycle. He said he did not have one but had a 52 inch standing at the painters. Webb said he should like to see it. It was arranged that Webb would return in an hour. Webb asked if he might leave a plated cup which he had won in a swimming race at Bedford with him until his return. Webb asked the price of the bicycle. He told him £10 10s. Webb left and he fetched the machine. Webb returned as arranged and looked at the bicycle. Webb said his uncle Hopkins at the Plume of Feathers had said he had better have a 52 inch if he thought he could reach it. Webb got on the machine and could reach. It was then taken out into the street. At Webb’s request he (Dightam) mounted it and ran a short distance. Webb said he should like to try it. He held it for Webb to mount. Webb rode away down the Brickhill Road out of sight. He followed on foot as far as Rushmere and as Webb did not return he came back to Leighton and made enquiries of Mr Hopkins, who knew nothing of him. He went after Webb again as far as Rushmere. From there following the track he went as far as Woburn where he gave information at the police station. He and Inspector Smith went to Woburn Sands, then returned to Woburn and telegraphed from there to Bedford. They then obtained a horse and trap and went after Webb. They heard of him at Ridgmont, then went to Ampthill where they heard he had gone on the high road to Bedford about ¾ hour earlier. They followed and heard of him again at Elstow. They could not find Webb at Bedford. He returned to Leighton and communicated with Superintendent Shepherd. The next morning he went back with Supt Shepherd to Bedford and heard of Webb at Barford Bridge. They proceeded to St Neots and there heard of a man answering Webb’s description and a machine having been broken. At a mill about a mile and a half from St Neots he found the broken bicycle. He returned with it to St Neots. William Chambers of St Neots (Hunts), innkeeper – he is the landlord of the Angel Inn at St Neots. On 14 August about 9.30pm Webb came to his house. Webb had a bicycle with him and said he was going to the Woolpack Inn at Godmanchester and asked the way. He offered to direct Webb as he was going to drive some gentlemen along the road. Webb rode his bicycle behind the cart. He stopped at a gate near the St Neots mill and Webb ran his bicycle into the back of the cart and broke it. The bicycle was taken to the mill and left there. Webb went with them to Bramton, his destination. He brought Webb back as far as the turn of the road to Godmanchester where he left him. Next morning Mr Dightam and the Supt came to his house. He went with them to the paper mill and saw the bicycle handed over to them. James Siratt of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – on 14 August he saw Webb on Stone Lane beyond Heath and Reach, pushing a bicycle up the hill. He was driving a cart and caught Webb up. Webb asked for a lift to Ampthill. He said he was only going to Woburn and gave Webb a lift there. The bicycle was taken into the cart. They had to take it to pieces to get it in. They got talking about bicycles. Webb said he had been a rider for 8 years and had not practised the one he had with him for long. He parted with Webb at the police station at Woburn. Webb started on the bicycle back again towards Leighton. Thomas Hopkins of Leighton Buzzard, innkeeper – he is the landlord of the Plume and Feathers at Leighton. Webb is not a relation of his and is a total stranger to him. He has never given him any advice about buying a bicycle. William Shepherd – police superintendent for the Leighton Buzzard division – on 15 August he went with Mr Dightam to Bedford by an early train. They traced Webb to St Neots. He went to the paper mill with James Siratt. The bicycle was handed to him. Dightam said it was his. Dightam took the machine back to St Neots, and he went on to Godmanchester. He found Webb at the Woolpack Inn there and took him into custody. In reply to the charged Webb said “Oh no I did not steal it. If I had not met with the accident I should have rode it here yesterday and back with it today”. When taken Webb had no money on him. Richard William Webb – “I can only say I did not take the bicycle with the intention of stealing it. I left the cup with Mr Dightam until I had seen whether the machine suited me and came back. I wanted to try the machine. I have offered him the money for the machine since I have been taken and he can have it now in two hours time."

item

Webb, Richard William,
Dightam, Hyla Edward,
Chambers, William,
Siratt, James,
Hopkins, Thomas,
Shepherd, William,
Hopkins

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Leighton Buzzard Lamsey Street, St Neots, Rushmere, WOBURN SANDS, WOBURN, BEDFORD, RIDGMONT, AMPTHILL, ELSTOW, Barford Bridge, Godmanchester, stealing, bicycles, mechanic, innkeeper, police superintendent, Leighton Buzzard Plume of Feathers, St.Neots Angel, Godmanchester Woolpack, paper mills