QSR1877/3/5/8

Depositions and examination - James Smith of Goldington, labourer, charged with stealing one coat value 30s from Joseph Gammons at Thurleigh on 2 July 1877

4 July 1877

From: 1877 To: 1877

Joseph Gammons of Thurleigh, labourer – on Monday 2 July between 10 and 11pm he was in the street of Thurleigh on foot with a few other people. He quarrelled with Charles Armstrong of Bletsoe and they were going to fight. He took off his coat and laid it down on the ground by the side of the road. As soon as they began the police came up and stopped them. He looked for his coat and it was gone. The whole dispute did not last more than 5 minutes. He saw Smith amongst the others when he put his coat down. He later went with PC Tatman on the road towards Goldington in pursuit of Smith who had gone that way. They overtook Smith in Goldington and he was wearing the missing coat. William Tatman, police constable of Sharnbrook – he was on duty at Thurleigh Feast on Monday night. About 11.30pm he heard a disturbance and found Gammons and Armstrong fighting. He stopped them fighting. They were both without their coats. He saw Smith among the other people. When Gammons could not find his coat he said he suspected Smith. They overtook Smith at Goldington High Fields where he lived. Smith had the coat on his back. He took Smith into custody at about 1.30am. Smith claimed it was his own coat, then later said it belonged to a young man of Milton named Coleman. He charged Smith with stealing the coat and Smith said he was very sorry and that he did steal it. James Smith – has nothing to say.

item

Smith, James,
Gammons, Joseph,
Tatman, William,
Armstrong, Charles

THURLEIGH, GOLDINGTON, SHARNBROOK, BLETSOE, stealing, coat, police constable, feasts