Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1844/3/5/15
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - John Hornsby charged with stealing one iron shovel value 2s from Joseph Martin at Sharnbrook
  • Date free text
    24 May 1844
  • Production date
    From: 1844 To: 1844
  • Scope and Content
    Joseph Martin of Sharnbrook, labourer – on Saturday 11 May he was at work at the stone pits in a close called Clay-piece at Sharnbrook. About 5.30pm before he left work he placed his shovel with the other tools against the bank in the pit and put a plank before them. When he went to work on Monday morning bout 6.30am he missed his shovel. He later told the police. Last night he saw the shovel in the possession of Mr Graham. At first he was not sure it was the same as he thought it was a little wider, but he is now quite sure it is the one he lost. He knows it by a knot in the handle between the cheeks and between the rivets through the handle. On 9 May Hornsby came to the Clay-piece where he was at work with his father. Hornsby said he had had no work for 3 weeks and he was going down to the rail road. Benjamin Harrison of Stanwick (Northants), labourer – he is the son of James Harrison of Stanwick, farmer. On Tuesday 14 May he was keeping horses on the bottom road at Stanwick when Hornsby came to him as he was sitting down and said he had been working at the railway in the meadow near Ringstead Hill and the ganger had run away with his money. Hornsby said he had no money and offered to sell him his shovel. Hornsby first asked 18d but then said he would take 1s as he wanted victuals. He gave 1s for it. When the police superintendent came to him yesterday he gave him the shovel. William Byers Graham of Sharnbrook, superintendent of Bletsoe division of the police – on Wednesday 22 May from information he received he took Hornsby into custody on a charge of stealing a shovel. Hornsby hung his head and said nothing, but later he voluntarily said “I was hard up or I would not have taken it”. John Hornsby – he has nothing to say.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
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