QSR1855/3/5/36

Depositions of William Bell Wright, schoolmaster of Lidlington, William Brandam, store dealer of Lidlington and Thomas Bowles, police constable of Lidlington. In the case of William Furze, labourer of Lidlington, accused of stealing 75 pound weight of cast iron.

14 June 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

William Bell Wright: resided in Lidlington and was a schoolmaster although was currently out of business. On 3 April he had iron in a warehouse on his premises. It was in one piece. On 20 May he missed it. Furze had been in his employment but was not so at the time the iron was stolen. He had no doubt the iron produced by PC Bowles was his property. The value of it as old iron was a shilling and sixpence. William Brandom: he knew the prisoner Furze. On 18 May Furze brought him 4 pieces of iron and asked him to buy it. He asked Furze where he had it from and was told he had bought it. He gave him 18 pence for it and it weighed 75lbs. Furze left the premises and Brandom handed the iron to PC Bowles on the same day. PC Thomas Bowles: he went to examine the iron sold to Brandom by Furze. He patterned the 4 pieces of iron together and they formed a single piece. He took the iron with him and on 20 May showed them to the prosecutor, who identified it as his property. On 13 June he apprehended the prisoner and told him of the charge. The prisoner acknowledged that he had stolen the iron and that he had done it from want. The prisoner also said he had broken the iron into 4 pieces. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say only that he had never been before a magistrate previous to this offence. He hoped for forgiveness.

item

Furze, William,
Wright, William Bell,
Brandam, William,
Bowles, Thomas

LIDLINGTON, stealing, iron, schoolmaster, marine store dealer