QSR1844/2/5/7

Depositions and examination - James Tyson charged with stealing one calico shirt (value 1s) from William Samuel Watkins at Woburn on 18 March 1844

18 March 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

William Samuel Watkins of Woburn, journeyman tailor – he is employed by James Harding, a tailor in Woburn who also keeps a retail beer house there. He lodges with his master. Yesterday morning (17 March) he took off a calico shirt he had been wearing and left it on a chair in the room he usually sleeps in. The shirt was marked “WSW 3” and is the one now produced by PC Wild. After taking off his shirt he left home and returned this morning when he missed the shirt. He made enquiries with Mrs Harding who said she did not know anything about it but said that Tyson had slept in his bedroom last night. He charged Tyson with taking his shirt. Tyson denied it. He asked Tyson to unbutton his waistcoat and let him see the shirt he was wearing. Tyson did so. He believes Tyson had his shirt on. He then gave Tyson in charge to the police. Tyson said it was his own shirt, bought from Petticoat Lane, London. A few minutes later Mrs Harding gave him an old check shirt she had found under another bed in the same room. Mrs Harding previously said that Tyson was wearing a check shirt the previous night. He has the fellow shirt to the one produced, marked “WSW 4”. James Wild, police constable stationed at Woburn – he was sent for that morning to James Harding’s beer house. Watkins gave Tyson into his custody. Tyson stated the shirt he had on was his, bought at Petticoat Lane. He took up the flap and found the shirt was marked “WSW 3”. He told Tyson to take the shirt off. He searched Tyson and found on him a box, 7d, and a pawnbroker’s duplicate ticket for a pair of shoes. He gave Tyson the check shirt that Watkins had given to him. Tyson admitted it was his and said he did not know what led him to take the other. He did not induce Tydon to say anything. The check shirt is nearly worn out and is not worth 2d. James Tyson – he does not wish to say anything. He is a wood turner by trade.

item

Tyson, James,
Watkins, William Samuel,
Wild, James,
Harding, James

WOBURN, stealing, clothing, shirts, tailor, beer houses, beer retailer, police constable, wood turner