QSR1845/4/5/21-23

Depositions and examinations - Matthew Brown, James Waylett and Joseph Fox charged with stealing one silver watch from John Holmes at Heath and Reach on 10 September 1845

11 September 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

John Holmes of Heath and Reach, straw plait dealer - he left home yesterday (Sept 10) about 5am, leaving his watch hanging over the chimney shelf in the front room. When he returned home about 2pm he was informed his watch had been stolen. The watch produced is his. Tehre is a paper with his name on it inside. Mary Page of Heath and Reach, singlewoman – she lives at the said house. About 11am yesterday she was in the Hockliffe Reoad about 40 yards from John Holmes’ house. She saw the 3 prisoners coming along. Fox asked her where he could get some water. She pointed out a pump to him which stands exactly opposite Holmes’ house. Fox and Brown went down towards the spot. Waylett remained standing in the road. The pump is 60 yards from the road. Mary Holmes – she lives with her father at the said house. She was at home yesterday at about 10.55. The watch was hanging over the chimney shelf. She went into the back room for about 5 minutes. When she returned she missed the watch. She left her sister in the room where the watch was hanging. The room opens into the yard where the pump spoken of by Mary Page is situated. She only knew her little sister left the room because she told her so. Hannah Holmes [deposition deleted] – she was in the front room when her sister went out into the back room. Their door was open. She saws Fox and Brown come down to the pump. Brown came to the door and asked her to give him a pot to drink out of. She went into the back to get him a mug and when she came back they were both gone. Richard Bowler of Hockliffe, tailor – about 12pm yesterday he was standing in the Hockliffe Road about 3 miles from Holmes’ house and saw the 3 prisoners coming along the road. He saw Clough the policeman go towards them and lay hold of Brown. He saw Waylett throw something away over the hedge into Mr Adams’ close. He was about 120 yards from them at the time. Francis Barnes – he lives with his father at Hockliffe. Between 12 and 1pm yesterday he saw the prisoners in the Hockliffe Road. There was a mob of people. He and two other boys went into Mr Adams’ close and he found the watch. William Clough, police constable stationed at Hockliffe – he received information at about 12pm yesterday that 3 men were coming down the road who were supposed to have stolen a watch. He met them and saw something pass between Brown and Waylett. They tried to dodge past him but he stopped them and took them into custody. He later received the watch produced from James Tompkins. He saw Brown and Waylett put out their hands as if giving something to each other. Matthew Brown – what he saw pass was some tobacco in a paper. He had taken some from the paper and was giving it to him again. He never entered the house. He stopped in the road and was asked if he wanted any water. He did not know Waylett, nor that the property was on him. He is a printer’s pressman. James Waylett – he was never near the house at all. He went up to the policeman as soon as he stopped the others. It was only tobacco that passed between them. He never heaved anything overt the hedge. He is a seaman. Joseph Fox – he is a shoemaker and was travelling from Manchester. He was coming along through Stratford and was walking with Brown. They met Waylett. He asked for the water and went and drank at the pump and went on. The other two did not go with him and he did not go near any house. He stopped directly he was told to do so.

item

Brown, Matthew,
Waylett, James,
Fox, Joseph,
Holmes, John,
Page, Mary,
Holmes, Mary,
Bowler, Richard,
Barnes, Francis,
Clough, William,
Holmes, Hannah,
Tompkins, James

HEATH & REACH, HOCKLIFFE, stealing, watches, straw plait dealer, tailor, police constable, printer