QSR1844/4/5/3

Depositions - Thomas Stanton, charged with attempting to set fire to an outhouse [Pencilled in margin: "NB. tried for the attempt only"]

20 July 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

John Whitworth of Turvey, farmer – he knows Thomas Stanton who lives at Turvey. A few weeks ago he found Stanton on his land and told him if he found him there again he would flog him. About a fortnight ago he found Stanton pelting his walnuts. He told him he would flog him if he caught him again. Ezra Reynolds of Turvey, miller – on Saturday 13 July he was looking out of the loading door of Turvey Mill (occupied by John Whitworth) and saw Stanton with a light which appeared to be a lighted lucifer match. Stanton stood in a wagon under the hovel, which is thatched. He ran downstairs and towards the wagon. He got into the wagon and found the burnt lucifer match lying on the boards in the body of the wagon. Stanton was running away when he reached the hovel. He examined the thatch, but did not see any part of it was burnt. When he saw Stanton in the wagon with the light in his hand it was within two or three inches of the thatch. Stanton held the match upwards towards the thatch. He did not see him light the thatch. The hovel is occupied by John Whitworth and is about a dozed yards from the mill. Joseph Brice, aged 12, son of Daniel Brice of Lavendon (Bucks), labourer – he works for Joseph Paris of Turvey. He knows Stanton. Between 3 and 4pm last Saturday afternoon he went down to Mr Whitworth’s wagon hovel. As he was going down he saw the prisoner getting into the wagon. He got into the wagon too. There were 5 of them there altogether. He did not know any of the other 3 by name but would know them if he saw them. They went to try to find some young birds in the thatch. About 10 minutes later after they had been looking for young birds he saw Stanton scrape a lucifer match against the wagon rides and light it. Stanton held it in his hands then put it up to the thatch. He said to Stanton “you must not do it”. Stanton said “it don’t matter to you”. Stanton never put it on the thatch, only against it. The thatch did not burn. He did not see Reynolds before he got to the wagon. When Reynolds came the boys ran into the orchard. He never told anybody that Stanton said he was going to set fire to the thatch. About ¼ hour later he saw Stanton by the same hovel as he was against master’s yard. Stanton said “what did you tell for?”. He did not reply and went up to the stable.

item

Stanton, Thomas,
Whitworth, John,
Reynolds, Ezra,
Brice, Joseph,
Brice, Daniel,
Paris, Joseph

TURVEY, Turvey Mill, Lavendon, arson, farmer, miller, walnuts, wagon