QSR1855/1/5/2

Depositions of Henry Gurney, labourer of Dropshort, Buckinghamshire and Jonathan Baldwin, labourer of Marylebone, Middlesex. In the case of Richard Nicholls accused of stealing a velveteen jacket, one waistcoat, a pait of breeches, a new smock, a pair of shoes, a silk handkerchief and 2 cotton handkerchiefs.

20 October 1854

From: 1854 To: 1855

Henry Gurney: a labourer and residing at Drop Short in the parish of Bow Brickhill. On 18 October he was returning home and slept at the Bell at Hockcliffe. Before he went to bed the prisoner, who was a stranger, came in and slept in the same room. The next morning they let the house together. He had a bundle with him containing sundry items and wearing apparel. The prisoner proposed they stop for breakfast and they had some at the White Hart, leaving there together about 8am. They proceeded on the road to a house called The Swan kept by a man named Woods. He then got a flower pot to carry for another person. The prisoner remained with him at Wood’s and before they left the prisoner wanted to carry the bundle. He asked the prisoner to carry the flower pot but he would not. The prisoner took the bundle and they left Wood’s house together. At the Fleur de Lys they took some beer and then proceeded on the road towards Little Brickhill. The prisoner still had the bundle. On the road he stopped to talk to someone and the prisoner went on by himself. He soon followed but the prisoner was out of sight. He enquired of a man who had earlier been in their company as to where the prisoner had gone and he was told across the turnips. They both proceeded across the field and the man overtook him and came up shortly afterwards with the bundle and the prisoner. The prisoner gave himself up and said he wanted to be taken. The prisoner said he had intended to rob him and if he did not take care he would rob him again. He took possession of his bundle and none of his things were missing but one of the cotton handkerchiefs in which the bundle was tied was taken off and the prisoners smock frock was wrapped around it. He saw the handkerchief afterwards in the possession of the man who had gone after the prisoner with him. The prisoner continued in his custody until Sheep Lane where he delivered him into the custody of the police constable. He was in the parish of Potsgrove when the prisoner left the road with the bundle. The bundle had been tied in 2 handkerchiefs and contained one velveteen jacket, a waistcoat, a new smock frock, a pair of breeches, a silk handkerchief and a pair of shoes, together worth 20 shillings. Jonathan Baldwin: had been residing in Marylebone, Middlesex for almost 3 years. He had been on the road from London to Manchester. Whilst at Hockcliffe, the prisoner and Gurney came into the public house where he had been having his breakfast. They left together shortly afterwards and he overtook them on the road. The prisoner had a bundle on his shoulder with a hooked stick in it. He noticed Gurney stop on the road and the prisoner went on without him. He saw the prisoner turn off the road and turn into a field through a gap which he appeared to have made himself. Gurney overtook him shortly afterwards and asked if he had seen the prisoner and he told him he had gone across the field and went after him. The prisoner saw him running after him and about 100 yards before he got to him he saw him throw the bundle into the hedge. He picked it up. When he first saw the bundle it had been tied in a blue cotton handkerchief and when he found it in the field it had a smock frock tied around it. He gave the bundle to Gurney and asked the prisoner how he had come to take the things. The prisoner said he had meant to take the bundle all along. They all went together to Sheep Lane where the prisoner was given into the custody of the parish constable. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Nicholls, Richard,
Gurney, Henry,
Baldwin, Jonathan

POTSGROVE, Buckinghamshire, Marylebone, stealing, clothing, Hockliffe Fleur de Lys, Hockliffe White Hart