QSR1844/3/5/20

Depositions and examination - George Hemmings charged with stealing a gun

4 June 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

William Carter of Chalk Hill in Houghton Regis, farmer – he manages the farm for his aunt Mrs Jane Carter. About 27 April he was out shooting some rooks and left the gun in the hedge of a field at his aunt’s farm. On the following Monday it was gone. The gun produced is the one he lost. The socket of the ramrod is gone and he leaves it in his pocket – it fits exactly. It also has some shot marks under the stock. The gun is his aunt’s property. John Gilbert of Luton, tailor – about 3 weeks ago he saw Hemmings at James Musson’s with a gun in his hand which he was showing to a man of the name of Bean. They went into the yard. He went out to them and said “you have a nice little gun there”. Bean said it was, and it was for sale. Hemmings said he wanted 14s for it and wanted to sell it because he wanted to make up his rent and meant to give up carrying a gun. He later saw Hemmings at the Horse and Jockey and offered to exchange a gun with him. He did so and gave Hemmings a shilling. The gun he had from him is the gun produced. He later exchanged it with James Keens of Caddington. Hemmings told him he had bought the gun at a rookery for a sovereign and had a new breech put into it at Leighton. James Keens of Caddington, baker – about a fortnight ago he exchanged a gun with Mr Gilbert. Last Monday a policeman came to his house with Mr Carter and Mr Gilbert, told him the gun belonged to Mr Carter and took it away with them. Charles Walters of Luton, police constable – on Monday 3 June Mr Carter told him he had lost a gun and suspected Hemmings had stolen it and disposed of it in Luton. John Gilbert told him he had purchased a gun from a person answering Hemmings’ description. They found the gun at Mr Keens’ at Caddington. He went after Hemmings with Gilbert. He left Gilbert at the Green Man at Chalk Hill and went with Carter and found Hemmings. They took him to the Green Man where Gilbert identified him as the man he had exchanged the gun with. He did not take Hemmings into custody immediately. Hemmings told Mr Carter he had a gun which he would show him and never had any other, but he had been unfortunate to blow it. The barrel now produced is part of one which Gilbert identified as part of the gun he exchanged with Hemmings.

item

Hemmings, George,
Carter, William,
Carter, Jane,
Gilbert, John,
Musson, James,
Keens, James

Chalk Hill, HOUGHTON REGIS, LUTON, CADDINGTON, stealing, guns, farmer, tailor, baker, Luton Horse & Jockey, Chalk Hill Green Man