QSR1854/1/5/34

Depositions of William Chandler, labourer, Joseph Brim, labourer and Charles Ruddiford, police constable all of Wrestlingworth. In the case of David Newell accused of stealing a watch.

2 November 1853

From: 1853 To: 1854

William Chandler: on Saturday night he had been in the Horse Shoes Public House at Wrestlingworth. David Newall was present as well as 3 or 4 more. Whilst in the house he checked his watch and put it back in his pocket. When they left the house there was a scuffle between Thomas Whittamore and Chandler. They fell to the ground together and whilst he was down, David Newall and some of the other gathered round and began to pull him about. Soon after the scuffle he noticed his watch missing. He returned to look for it but could not find it. He told David he had lost it and they went together to Shefford to look for it. He suspected David had taken it out of his pocket and told him so but David denied the charge. Next morning he advised the police of his loss and again returned to the place the scuffle had occurred to look for it. The following Sunday evening the watch was brought to him by Joseph Brim. The watch had been bought from Mr Pepper, the watch maker at Potton. A week or 10 days after he had the watch back, Newall came to Chandler and asked what money he wanted to make it up. Newall offered 10 shillings. He told Newall he dare not make it up but Newall said Chandler should make it up and not go to Biggleswade. Joseph Brim: on the Sunday week after the watch had been lost he was at the Checkers(?) at Wrestlingworth. David Newall came and sat down and stayed about half an hour. They went out together and just as they were parting, Newall pulled a watch out from his pocket. Brim said that it was Will Chandlers watch. Newall said he was going done Water End and he knew Brim was going by. He asked Newall where he had got the watch from and he said he had found it under an oak tree. He meant a tree which lay by the Horse Shoes. Brim gave the watch to Chandler as he went by. Charles Riddiford: Chandler came and told him he had lost his watch. He looked with Chandler at the place where the scuffle had taken place but could not find it. He was certain it was not by the oak tree. He saw David Newall on the Thursday and told him Chandler suspected him of the theft but Newall said he knew nothing of it. The next Sunday Chandler came and told him the watch had been found. The morning after Newall had given the watch to Brim he happened to see Newall and said he had managed to find the watch before Bench day but Newall said that he knew nothing about it. Statement of the accused: he had not gone near Chandler the night the watch had been lost and he had helped Chandler search for it. He also said Chandler could search him but Chandler would not. The next morning Chandler came to him and blamed him for the loss. Chandler had a hole in his pocket.

item

Newall, David,
Chandler, William,
Brim, Joseph,
Ruddiford, Charles

WRESTLINGWORTH, POTTON, stealing, watches