QSR1844/1/5/11

Depositions and examination - John Crouch, charged wtih stealing one pair of leather leggings, one pair of hedging gloves and a pair of smaller leather gloves from George Bryant

9 November 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

George Bryant of Southill, fruit dealer – on Wednesday 8 November he bought a pair of leather leggings, a pair of leather hedging gloves and a pair of smaller leather gloves at Biggleswade. He left them in the Bear Inn. When he was almost home he remembered and went back for them. When he got back to the Bear Inn they were gone. He applied to the police. He next saw them in Smith the policeman’s possession. He knows the gloves are his by a mark of hair in the thumb. He also swears the other gloves and leggings are his. They were all tied together in a bundle. He gave 6s 6d for them. Francis Smith of Biggleswade, police constable – George Bryant sent for him on 8 November and desired him to take Crouch into custody on suspicion that he had stolen the gloves and leggings. He took Crouch into custody, took him to Mr Handley and left him there. In consequence of information received he then followed Thomas Lander Thrussell and took him on the road to Henlow with part of the stolen articles in his possession. Thomas Lander Thrussell of Pirton (Herts), fruit dealer – on 8 November he bought the leather leggings and gloves produced from a man in the Bear Inn. He did not know him before but will swear it is the prisoner. He gave half a crown for the leggings and a shilling for the gloves. He asked several times if Crouch came by them right and he said he did. On the road between Henlow and Langford PC Smith took him into custody. Charles Merryweather of Southill – he was in the Bear Inn on Wednesday. Crouch was handing a pair of leather gloves round the room for sale. He bought them for 8d. Thomas Lander Thrussell was there. He did not know him before but he knew Crouch before. George Sharp the police constable took the gloves from him that evening. George Sharp of Biggleswade, police constable – he received John Crouch into custody from Francis Smith. He did not ask him any questions, but Crouch said “I seed a parcel lying at the Bear, and the reason that I done it was that I had had nothing to eat from yesterday morning till tonight”. He searched Crouch and found 2s 9d on him, including 3 fourpenny pieces. He followed Charles Merryweather to Broom and received from him the leather gloves. Thomas Handley of Biggleswade – Francis Smith brought the prisoner into his house. Crouch said “I’ve been selling some of my old gaiters and they have taken me into custody for it”. Crouch later said in reply to a question that he had seen Bryant bring them in and leave them and he thought he might as well have them as anyone else. John Crouch – declined to make any statement.

item

Crouch, John,
Bryant, George,
Smith, Francis,
Thrussell, Thomas Lander,
Merryweather, Charles,
Sharp, George

SOUTHILL, BIGGLESWADE, PIRTON, Broom, stealing, clothing, gloves, fruiterer, police constable, Biggleswade Bear