QSR1844/1/5/28

Depositions and examination - Charles Maddocks, charged with stealing a prayer book from Mary Crouch

11 December 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

Henry Giddings of Dunstable, painter – on 30 November he was at work at Dunstable Church with his father between 2 and 3pm. He went into William Money’s shop opposite the Church to melt some metal. While he was doing so he saw Maddocks go into the Church. When he returned he saw Maddocks in the belfry. Maddocks asked if he could give him a job. He forgets what he said to him, but hastened to see if his tools were alright. When he came down in about 10 minutes time Maddocks was gone. James Smith of Houghton Regis – on Thursday 30 November between 3 and 4pm he was standing at the corner of Church Street, Dunstable, when Maddocks came up to him and offered to sell him a book for 3d. He told Maddocks he did not want one. Maddocks said his wife had been kicking up a row and he meant to sell the books. He then gave Maddocks 3d for a book which he later gave to Mr Tutte. It was the book now produced. Maddocks wanted him to buy another book but he refused. The other was a red book with a small piece of the binding hanging to it. It is the one now poriduced by Mr Tutte. James Norris of Dunstable – between 3 and 4pm on Tuesday [sic] 30 November he was with James Smith when Maddocks asked him to buy a book. He said he did not want any. Maddocks showed him two books and had several others in his pockets. The books now produced by Mr Tutte are the same two that Maddocks offered to him. Mary Crouch of Dunstable - the prayer book now produced by PC Tutte is hers and was left by her in her pew in Dunstable Church. She knows it by a pencil mark in the corner. Her book had her name written in it. The book produced has a leaf torn out. John Tutte, police constable – on Monday 4 December he went with PC Byers to Thomas Smith’s house in Houghton Regis and asked if they had bought any books lately. James Smith said he had bought a book from Maddocks for 3d. He took possession of the book. On 5 December Miss Crouch identified the book as her property. He then went to Maddocks’ house and found he had absconded. From information he received he went to London found him in the back yard of the Queens Head in St John Street concealed between a hamper and a barrel. Richard Byers of Dunstable, police constable – on Monday 4 December he and John Tutte went in search of some prayer books and other articles reported stolen from the Church at Dunstable. They found a quantity had been thrown into the yard of the Methodist Chapel and carried to Mr Lockharts. They later found that the prisoner had sold a prayer book to James Smith. The book was identified by Miss Crouch as hers. He later received Maddocks from John Tutte. As he was going to get him remanded Maddocks acknowledged selling the book to James Smith and having the other books in his possession. Maddocks said he had found them. Charles Maddocks – on Wednesday evening about 5pm he was walking along the front street and found the book sworn to by Miss Crouch with 2 small ones near it. He kept them in his pocket until Thursday afternoon and then asked the 2 boys if they would buy that one. He sold it to them for 3d.

item

Maddocks, Charles,
Crouch, Mary,
Giddings, Henry,
Money, William,
Smith, James,
Norris, James,
Tutte, John,
Smith, Thomas,
Byers, Richard

DUNSTABLE, HOUGHTON REGIS, Dunstable Church Street, Middlesex St John Street, stealing, books, churches, police constable, Methodist chapels