QSR1845/4/5/20

Depositions and examination - Reuben Tansley

9 September 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

William Blundell of Potton, chimney sweeper – on the night of Tuesday Sept 2 he missed several things belonging to his trade: a shovel, 2 brushes, one scraper, one sack, 2 cloths and a machine for sweeping. He saw them today in the custody of the superintendent of police. He is sure the things produced are all his property. William Wright, inspector of police of the county of Herts – on Thursday morning 4th Sept he saw Tansley in the road between Royston and Barley in Hertfordshire. Tansley had a bundle which he suspected contained stolen property. He found the items just sworn to by Blundell in the bundle. He wrote to Supt Blundell of the Beds police and informed him. Tansley said he had bought the things from a master sweep named Lewin of Bedford. James Lawford, police constable of Hertfordshire – he heard yesterday that Mr Blundell of the Beds police had come to Royston in search of some stolen property including a chimney sweeping machine. Having heard Inspector Wright mention that Tansley had the machine in his possession he went to Tansley’s sister’s house, found the machine and went in search of Tansley. He overtook him at Chishill in Essex and apprehended. He found the other articles in a cloth with the machine. He took Tansley and the things to Royston and handed him over to Supt Blundell of the Beds police, with Blundell junior, the son of Blundell of Potton, who identified the things as his father’s property. William Blundell junior of Biggleswade – he is the son of Wm Blundell of Potton, chimney sweeper. He went with Supt Blundell and saw the things now produced in the hands of James Lawford. He recognizes them all except the shovel as his father’s property. He has used all the articles except the shovel and one cloth himself. After the loss he was sent by his father in search of the items, first to St Neots and then in other directions. Mary Ann Parkins of Potton – she is the wife of Joesph Parkins, beer seller. She lives next door to Mr Blundell the sweep. On Tuesday last about 2.30 she saw Tansley lying on the green opposite her door, and a little after 6 she saw him looking into Mr Blundell’s yard. Before that she saw him walking backwards and forwards in the lane close to her house. She saw he had a bundle at his back which he took up the lane but did not return with. She did not see him after 6.30pm. Reuben Tansley – the things found at his sister’s were his property. He bought them at Bedford as much as 2 or 3 years ago from Lewin, master sweep of Bedford.

item

Tansley, Reuben,
Blundell, William,
Wright, William,
Lawford, James,
Parkins, Mary Ann,
Parkins, Joseph

POTTON, Royston, BIGGLESWADE, stealing, chimney sweep, police inspector, police constable, beer seller