QSR1845/4/5/16

Depositions and examination - George Goodridge charged with stealing a piece of brass from Charles Giddings at Silsoe on or about 26 July 1845. Also includes a character reference.

29 August 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

Charles Giddings of Silsoe – he is a wheelwright in Silsoe and also keeps a blacksmith’s forge. Goodridge was employed to work at the forge. On 8 August he missed a piece of brass from the blacksmith’s bellows. He can swear the piece of brass produced is his property Mary Keech of Clophill – she is the wife of Joseph Keech who keeps the Green Man public house. Goodridge came there at the end of July to ask for a lodging. They gave him one and he remained more than a week. On Saturday 2 August he left and did not return until Monday 4th, when he asked for a candle to go to bed. Her husband asked Goodridge whether he had any money to pay for the last week’s lodgings. Goodridge said he had not yet been paid by his master, and said he would pay for the lodgings the next morning. Goodridge asked permission to go upstairs for a shirt in his bedroom in which he said he had something which would pay them for the lodging. He then asked permission to lay down in the stable whithey granted, but he afterwards refused. On Thursday 5 August she went to Goodridge’s room for the shirt and found it underneath the bed with a piece of brass wrapped up in it. Charles Harris, police constable of Ampthill – he received information from Mary Keech that Goodridge had left their house and had left a shirt with a piece of brass in it. He took possession of the brass as he suspected it had been taken by Goodridge. On 8 August he took the brass to Giddings who identified it as his property. Having received information that Goodridge was working in a shop at Cardington Cotton End he went in pursuit of him and found him about 2 miles from Cotton End on the High Road. George Goodridge – had nothing to say. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Character reference from Richard Sewell of Hinton - writing by desire of Goodridge's family regarding their brother. Goodridge was in his employment for a considerable time and he never had any reason to think him anything more than an honest young man.

item

Goodridge, George,
Giddings, Charles,
Keech, Mary,
Keech, Joseph,
Harris, Charles

SILSOE, CLOPHILL, AMPTHILL, Cotton End, stealing, wheelwright, blacksmith, Clophill Green Man, police constable, publican, wheelwright, blacksmith