QSR1855/3/5/39-40

Depositions of David Thorn, innkeeper of Leighton Buzzard, his wife Mary Thorn and William Clough, inspector of police of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of John Harnden and Elizabeth Harnden, labourer of Leighton Buzzard, accused of stealing a sovereign.

23 June 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

David Thorn: innkeeper of the Cock Inn at Leighton. On 19 June the male prisoner came to his house with another man and slept there, going away on 22 June. On 22 June the female prisoner came to the house, with the same man who had accompanied the male prisoner, and asked if she and her husband could have a bed again. She was informed that she could and soon after Thorn’s wife had gone upstairs the female prisoner followed. The prisoner was in the room by herself for a short time. About half an hour previous he had been in the room and had seen some of the money safe in a sort of till in a chest in the room. There had been 3 sovereigns, 3 half crowns and a sixpence. The chest was shut but not locked. The female prisoner shortly came downstairs and left the house. He saw that she joined the male prisoner. They both returned to the house and took tea in the parlour. Whilst they were taking tea he sent his wife up to check the money in the box. There was a sovereign missing. He went and examined the box himself but could not find the sovereign. In consequence he called the male prisoner out of the room and told him that since his wife had been in house he had missed a sovereign. The prisoner directed that his wife should be called out. She was told of the lost sovereign and she said she knew nothing of it. She asked to be searched and turned out 13s 6d and said that he might have that. He threatened her with the constable and sent for one. Inspector Clough came and he accompanied him and the female prisoner into the bar and charged her with stealing the sovereign from the bedroom. She said she knew nothing of it but offered the 13s 6d to settle it. The male prisoner was sent into the bar and they were both advised of the charges against them. After a time the female prisoner told her husband to give up the sovereign and her husband gave the sovereign to Thorn. Both prisoners offered him all the money they had to let the matter go but he refused. Mary Thorn: on the afternoon of 22 June she showed the female prisoner up into a bedroom in her husband’s house. There was a chest of drawers in which he was in the habit of keeping money. She knew he had 3 sovereigns, 3 half crowns and a sixpence. The female prisoner was alone in the room for a short time and after the female prisoner had come downstairs, she was directed by her husband to check if the money was safe. She examined the chest and could only find 2 sovereigns, 3 half crowns and the sixpence. She brought down the money and gave it to her husband. Inspector William Clough: he was sent for by the prosecutor. He charged both of the prisoners. The female prisoner took 13s 6d from her purse and offered it to the prosecutor and soon after told her husband to give up the sovereign. On searching the male prisoner he found a bunch of 12 keys and 4s 6d in silver. After he had both prisoners in custody they offered all the money they had and to pawn their clothes if the prosecutor would let them off. Statements of the accused: John Harnden – the prosecutor had told him he had missed the sovereign an hour and a half. Elizabeth Harnden – she had never seen the sovereign.

item

Harnden, John,
Harnden, Elizabeth,
Thorn, David,
Thorn, Mary,
Clough, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, coins, innkeeper, lodging houses