- ReferenceQSR1844/4/5/25-26
- TitleDepositions and examinations - James Fanch and James Elkerton charged wtih stealing 13 pieces of iron value 10s from William Rawlins at Leighton Buzzard on 7 October 1844
- Date free text9 October 1844
- Production dateFrom: 1844 To: 1844
- Scope and ContentWilliam Rawlins of Leighton Buzzard, coachmaker – he occupies a shop in the Peacock Public House yard in Leighton and has the use of the yard for his trade. On Monday 7 October he had a quantity of iron lying in the yard close to his workshop. The next morning part of the iron had been taken. He went to James Elmes, a dealer in marine stores, and found all the iron now produced by PC Thurlow. The pieces produced numbered from 1 to 12 are his own property and are worth 7 or 8s to him in his trade, but if sold as old iron are not worth much more than 1s. A tyre of a coach wheel now produced was also in the yard. It was in his charge to put on a wheel when required by Mary Bushell and is worth 4s. Thomas Gilbert of Leighton Buzzard, victualler – he keeps the Peacock where Rawlins has a work shop. On Monday evening he saw all the iron in the yard. On Monday Elkerton was in his house for over two hours. John Green of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – on Monday he went to the Ram Beer Shop in Leighton about 7pm. When he went in the two prisoners were sitting there side by side. They were still there when he left 15 or 20 minutes later. George Saunders of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – about 8.30pm on Monday he was passing through the Peacock yard to the public house. He saw Elkerton standing under a cart hovel about 10 yards from where he has often seen a quantity of iron. James Elmes of Leighton Buzzard, dealer in marine stores – on Monday evening between 8 and 9pm Elkerton and Fanch came to his house. Elkerton had the tyre produced on his shoulder. Fanch had 2 or 3 pieces of iron in his hand. They both asked him to purchase the iron they produced. He said he would purchase any old pieces of iron but not the tyre. Fanch put the few pieces he had in his hands in his scales. He weighed them and said they would come to 3½d. Elkerton set down the tyre and said he had a few more pieces at home. They left and returned with the iron in about ¼ hour. He refused to buy the pieces they bought the last time as they were not pieces a blacksmith would buy from him to work up. They said “well they are here and you must buy them as we don’t want to take them back again”. He weighed the lot and said he would give them 1s for both lots, which he gave to Elkerton. As they were leaving he told them to take the tyre away. Elkerton said they had brought it from Billington where they bought it and would not carry it any further. They both said it was worth 5s. He said it might be if they had the fellow to it. Fanch said the person had got another but would not sell it. Elkerton said as they were leaving “give us 3d for it”. He refused. The pieces of iron now produced together with another piece of cast iron also produced are all he purchased from the two prisoners. George Thurlow of Leighton Buzzard, police constable – hearing that the iron had been stolen and that Elkerton had been drinking at the Peacock he went to Elkerton and inquired if he had sold any iron the night before to James Elmes. Elkerton said he had and claimed he found it. When asked where Elkerton said “where it was to be found”. He took him into custody. On the way to the cage Elkerton said “I shall not have it all on my own back are you not going to fetch the other one”. He said he would when he knew who it was. Elkerton said “Jim Fanch was with me when I stole it and when I sold it”. Fanch was later apprehended by PC Chapman. He went to James Elmes’ shop where he found the iron which Elmes said the two prisoners had brought there the night before. James Fanch – “I know nothing at all about it”. James Elkerton – “I know nothing about it but that I found it in Parson’s Close in a ditch”.
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