QSR1845/4/5/10

Depositions and examination - James Chambers charged with stealing 2 pigs from James Gadsden at heath and Reach on 8 June 1845

1 August 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

See also QSR1845/3/5/15 - similar prosecution against William Chambers, brother of James Chambers. Depositions for this case given by: James Gadsden of Heath and Reach, farmer George Inwards of Heath and Reach, farmer William Yates of Bow Brickhill (Bucks), parish constable Hensman Hammond of Bow Brickhill (Bucks), labourer William Ralph Young of Woburn, police superintendent James Wild of Woburn, police constable Largely identical to those given in previous case but with additional information as follows: James Gadsden - Chambers' brother William Chambers has been tried and convicted of stealing the pigs. About 10 days after the robbery he was in the wood he had seen William Chambers come out of and saw the four quarters of another pig of the size and appearance of those he lost. The head was not there - he had previously been shown the head of a pig when William Chambers was committed. George Inwards - Yates knew the man who took the pig away, it was James Chambers. He recognises the prisoner as the same man. William Yates - last June Chambers lived in a hut on Bow Brickhill Heath. On 8 June he was called up about 5am by Inwards. From the description Inwards gave of a house he knew it to be Chambers'. He went with Inwards to the house and as they approached James Chambers came out. Chambers ran away. He searched the house and saw marks of blood on the bricks. Other parts of the house seemed to have been freshly cleaned. William Ralph Young - last Wednesday he received a letter regarding a man in custody in Berkshire supposed to be James Chambers. He went to Gadsden and Inwards. They were on their way home from Brickhill and on the High Road they met the prisoner. Gadsden suspected he was the person and they followed him. It was dark. He questioned the man, who said his name was Smith and he was a native of Leamington. They followed the man and as they were getting near Brickhill the prisoner sprang over a gate and attempted to get off. Inwards tried to stop him but he got away. They followed and caught him at the end of about 4 fields. Chambers threatened him with his fist. James Wild - Chambers was given into his charge on Wednesday night. Yesterday Chambers asked how long his brother Bill had gone for. He told him 15 years. Chambers seemed to be fretting and said "we should never have done it if it had not been for the farmers. Whenever we went to ask for a day's work they refused it". Chambers also said he had a family at home and could not see them starve. Chambers never mentioned this charge, only by speaking of his brother's transportation. He is sure Chambers mentioned the word "we" and that he said he might as well go out of the country as stay in it. James Chambers - declined to say anything

item

Chambers, James,
Gadsden, James,
Inwards, George,
Yates, William,
Hammond, Hensman,
Young, William Ralph,
Wild, James

HEATH & REACH, Bow Brickhill, WOBURN, stealing animals, pigs, farmer, parish constable, police constable, police superintendent, transportation, general poverty