QSR1845/4/5/4

Depositions and examination - William Murdock Stimpson for stealing a handkerchief from Hannah Souster

21 July 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

Hannah Souster of Houghton Regis, singlewoman – on 23 June she left a silk and cotton handkerchief in the window stool in the parlour window of her father’s house (her father keeps a beer shop). She left it here while she went to chapel about 6pm. When she came back she missed the handkerchief. The next Thursday she met Stimpson in the street and asked him for the handkerchief. He swore and her and said he never touched it. The next Wednesday she saw her handkerchief on James Ratt’s neck. He said he bought it for 1s from Stimpson. She told him if he would bring it back she would forgive him. Mary Ann Souster of Dunstable – she is Hannah Souster’s sister. Stimpson came into her father’s house on 23 June and begin to play with some clothes which had been washed. She saw the handkerchief lying in the window before he came in. She was not in the room all the time he was there – she went out and left Stimpson there alone. She was within sight of the door. Stimpson began to pull her about which was the reason she left the room. James Ratt of Dunstable –on 25 June Stimpson came into his father’s house, the Crow at Dunstable, and asked if he would buy a silk handkerchief. He bought it for a shilling and gave Stimpson ½ pint of beer. On 2nd July Hannah Souster’s mother came up the yard to him and asked where he bought the handkerchief. He told her he bought it from Stimpson. Stimpson then came to her and asked him to let him have the handkerchief back if he returned the shilling. He agreed. Stimpson said he would take the handkerchief to Mrs Souster to see it was all right. Deborah Souster of Dunstable – she is the mother of Hannah Souster. On 23 June she was at home and saw Stimpson there. She saw the handkerchief in the window. She did not see anyone else come in. On 2 July she went to Ratt’s with her daughter and asked where he bought the handkerchief. Stimpson came to her house that day and brought the handkerchief back. John Tutte of Dunstable, police constable – the handkerchief now produced was given to him by Mrs Souster on Wednesday 2 July.

item

Stimpson, William Murdock,
Souster, Hannah,
Souster, Mary Ann,
Souster, Deborah,
Ratt, James,
Tutte, John

HOUGHTON REGIS, DUNSTABLE, stealing, handkerchief, Dunstable Crow, police constable