QSR1855/3/5/21

Depositions of Rebecca Wells., wife of Archibald Wells, victualler of Cranfield, Lucy Robinson, washerwoman of Cranfield and Charles Flint, police constable of Cranfield. In the case of John Beasley, labourer of Cranfield, accused of stealing a cotton handkerchief.

24 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Rebecca Wells: wife of Archibald Wells, keeper of the New George at Cranfield. Up to 12 May the prisoner had been lodging at the house for about 4 months. She missed a handkerchief belonging to her husband. She had missed it about 2 months previous. She had no suspected the prisoner. A week ago she saw the handkerchief in the house of Lucy Robinson, a washerwoman. She told her it was hers and Robinson said she had it off John Beasley. She afterwards saw the prisoner and asked him how he had come by the handkerchief, half of which she had with her. She had only received half from Mrs Robinson. The prisoner said he did not know it was hers and he would go and fetch the remaining half. He did so and gave it to her. She knew the handkerchief by its pattern and it had not been cut in half by her. Lucy Robinson: a washerwoman and a widow. She washed things for the prisoner. On the 13 May the prisoner brought her half a handkerchief to wash. The following Tuesday Rebecca Wells came to her house and saw the half handkerchief. Wells said it was hers and so she gave it up to her. She had not washed for Mrs Wells since March. PC Charles Flint: on 15 May he went to Rebecca Well’s house and asked her what was amiss. Wells said she had lost a handkerchief and had found part of it in Mrs Robinson’s house. Wells said she had seen the prisoner and he had produced the other half. The prisoner was in the tap room and he asked him about it. The prisoner said he should not tell where he got it. He took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner subsequently said he had taken it from the tap room. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Beasley, John,
Wells, Archibald,
Wells, Rebecca,
Robinson, Lucy,
Flint, Charles

CRANFIELD, stealing, handkerchief, victualler, washerwoman, Cranfield New George