QSR1876/4/5/11

Depositions and examination - John Farr, charged with stealing one watch and chain with 2 seals and 2 watch keys attached, value £2, from George Clayton at Biggleswade on 16 September 1876

20 September 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

George Clayton of Warden, labourer – on Saturday 16 September about 8 or 0pm he was on the Market Hill, Biggleswade. He had a silver watch in his upper waistcoat pocket with the end of the chain tucked into the lower waistcoat pocket on the same side. John Farr came up to him with a pair of spectacles in his right hand. Farr put his left hand round his body so that it came round just where his watch was. Farr asked if he would buy the spectacles. He said he could not see so well with spectacles as without. Farr said “you have a mother and father, buy them for them”. He said he had a mother but could not choose spectacles for her. All this time Farr’s left arm was round his body. Farr said he could have them cheap for 2 shillings. Farr pulled his head on one side with is right hand and whispered this in his ear. His left arm was still around him to his left breast. He said he would not buy and told Farr to let him go. Farr did so. Just before Farr came up to him he had looked at his watch and it was quite safe. He is sure he put it in his pocket. He went from Farr towards the Swan Inn, about 100 yards away. He felt for his watch and it was gone. He ran back and looked for Farr but could not see him anywhere, though it was not 3 minutes since he left him. He looked for Farr for over an hour, then saw him in the custody of the police to whom he had given information of the robbery. There was a crowd on the Market Hill, but he was not in the crowd. He stood outside it and Farr came to him. He had not been near anyone else from the time he looked at his watch until the time he missed it. As they were going to the police station Farr said he had not had his watch and denied putting his arm round him. Farr said he only hung onto his shoulder. This is untrue. Farr had a girl with him when apprehended, and he had seen Farr with 2 men (unknown to him) all the afternoon. At the police station he heard Farr say as he was going into the cell “I am going in here guilty”. Frederick Smith of Biggleswade, inspector of police – about 11.30pm on Saturday he apprehended Farr and took him to George Clayton at the end of Station Road, Biggleswade. Clayton identified him. He then charged Farr with stealing a watch. Farr said he was innocent. He took Farr to the police station. On searching him he found the spectacles now produced. As he put Farr into the cell he said “I am going in here guilty”. Farr now has other spectacles in his possession that were brought to him by a woman who lodges with him. She has been to see Farr once or twice. William Bedlow of Biggleswade, superintendent of police – he was at the police station when Farr was brought in. He saw Farr searched. As Farr was walking into the cell he said “I go in here guilty”. A woman has been to see Farr every day. She brought him a coat. He does not know what was in the pockets. There was only one pair of spectacles on him when he was searched. Farr has been working for Mr Wren the fishmonger for the last 2 years and has a pedlar’s certificate. When Farr applied for it from him nearly a year ago he said he was going to leave Mr Wren. John Farr – “I’ve got nothing to say except I lit on a girl and kept her company all the evening and Mr Jacobs from Hitchin”. Defence ---------- Eliza York of Biggleswade, singlewoman – she stood against the flying horses with Farr when Clayton came up to him and said he would give Farr 10s if he told him where his watch was as he had lost it. Farr said he did not know about Clayton’s watch and if he branded him for it he would summons him. Farr said if Clayton thought he had the watch he should fetch a policeman. The policeman came while they were talking. She told the police Farr was innocent as she had been with him from 7pm. They were against the flying horses and opposite Mr Conders on the Market Hill when this conversation took place. She had not seen Clayton before at all that evening. It was between 10 and 11pm when the conversation took place. She did not see Farr go to Clayton between 8 and 9pm. She was not 2 yards from him from 7pm until when he was taken away. She has not been in court long. She did not hear what Clayton or Inspector Smith said. She adheres to her statement that Clayton was with them offering 10s to find his watch when the police came. [Cross-examined] Inspector Smith apprehended Farr against Mr Jefferies. She next saw Clayton near the Station Road as they were going to the station.

item

Farr, John,
Clayton, George,
Smith, Frederick,
Bedlow, William,
York, Eliza,
Wren

BIGGLESWADE, Old Warden, Biggleswade Market Hill, Biggleswade Station Road, watches, pickpocket, Biggleswade Swan, police inspector, police superintendent, fishmonger, pedlar