QSR1844/3/5/3

Depositions and examination - John Green charged with stealing 2 pairs of leathern gaiters value 8s from John Isaac Stapleton at Woburn on 23 March 1844

17 April 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

John Isaac Stapleton of London Colney (Herts), glover, breeches and gaiter maker – he often goes about to markets and fairs and about the country generally to sell his goods after he has made them. On 23 March he was at Woburn with a bag of gloves, gaiters, and leggings. It was Woburn fair day. He went to the Wheatsheaf public house and into the tap room where there were nearly 20 people sitting. He offered his goods for sale. He had one pair of leggings on his arm and 2 pairs of gaiters in a piece of paper. One of the persons in the room tried on the leggings. He laid the paper with the gaiters down on the table while he helped the man try on the leggings. When he turned round for his parcel it was gone. He said “some of you have got my gaiters”. Some of them said “we are all willing to stand search” but all denied having it. He gave information to PC Wild. The two pairs of gaiters now produced by PC Wild marked “A” and “C” are the ones he lost. The paper marked “B” is the one the gaiters were wrapped in. The parcel was open when he laid it down. Both pairs are of his own making and he also recognizes the paper. He lost the pair of leggings that the man tried on at the same time. The short pair of gaiters are worth 3s and the others 5s. James Wild of Woburn, police constable – on Friday he went to the Royal Oak public house kept by Richard Surtees and enquired if Surtees had bought a pair of short gaiters. Surtees said he had. Surtees’ wife gave them to him – they are the gaiters marked “A”. Surtees said he bought them from John Green for a shilling and a pint of beer. That evening he went to Green’s house and asked Green where he got the gaiters from. After a little hesitation Green said he bought them and another pair from a man whose name he did not know on Woburn Fair night between 10 and 11pm. Green said the man met him in Back Lane and he gave the man 4s 6d for them. He enquired for the other pair. Green fetched them from upstairs. They are the pair marked “C”. Last Monday night Green told him he bought the garters in his own house. The paper produced was given to him by Richard Surtees. Surtees said the gaiters were wrapped in the paper when he bought them. Richard Surtees of Woburn, victualler – he keeps the Royal Oak public house. On Tuesday 9 April Green was at his house with some other persons. They were talking about gaiters. He said he wanted to buy a pair. Green then said he had two pairs of gaiters and would sell him on. Green left and soon returned with one pair of short leathern gaiters which he bought for 1s and a pint of beer. They are the gaiters marked “A”. They were in the paper marked “B”. He gave the gaiters to Wild on the 12th and the paper on the 13th. Green said to him just after he had bought the gaiters that his “wife” or “old woman” had bought them for him for Sundays and that he had found them with his Sunday clothes. John Green – “I bought the gaiters along with my wife on the Fair day at night in my own house. I have got nothing else to say. I don’t know who I bought them off. I gave 4/6 for them.”

item

Green, John,
Stapleton, John Isaac,
Surtees, Richard,
Wild, James

WOBURN, London Colney, stealing, clothing, leather, glovers, breeches maker, victuallers, police constables, gloves, fairs & markets, Woburn Wheatsheaf, Woburn Royal Oak