QSR1844/4/5/28

Depositions and examination - Joseph Allen of St Paul Bedford

14 October 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

Elizabeth Day, wife of George Day of St Paul Bedford, bricklayer – she lives at the Golden Lion public house in Well Street and is the wife of George Day who keeps the Golden Lion. Allen came there on Saturday evening 12 October. Her husband had some cigars in the cellar that evening which she saw several times. She marked them about 11pm. They were in 3 boxes, some of them larger than others. She marked all the large cigars – about 15 in one box and about 20 in another. She saw the cigars about 1am, having sold 2 since she marked them which she fetched from the cellar. Allen slept at their house on Saturday night. Between 7 and 8am she was on the landing. She heard someone in the cellar. She went and found Allen there. He said he was only going to have a drop of beer. She said “you’ve been to the cigars again as usual”. He said he had not. She missed the cigars out of the box in which where were about 15 or 16. All but 3 were taken. She sent for Mr Coombs who searched Allen and found the cigars on him. She could distinguish the marks she made and is positive they were her husband’s property. William Coombs of Bedford, chief constable – he went to Mr Day’s house and he gave Allen into his custody. He searched Allen and found the cigars which were broken as they are now with the exception of one which Mrs Day identified by the mark on it. When he took Allen into custody he asked Mr Day two or three times if he would settle it. Joseph Allen – nothing to say.

item

Allen, Joseph,
Day, Elizabeth,
Day, George,
Coombs, William

BEDFORD, Bedford St.Paul, Bedford Well Street, stealing, smoking, bricklayer, Chief Constable, Bedford Golden Lion