QSR1856/1/5/4

Depositions of James Bowden, bricklayer of Dunstable, Charles Inwards, innkeeper of Hockcliffe, William Clough, inspector of police of Leighton Buzzard, Jeremiah Cuttriss, police constable of Dunstable, Daniel Bull, bricklayer of Dunstable, Henry Potton, bricklayer of Dunstable, Charles Reeve, victualler of Leighton Buzzard and Samuel Nash, builder of Hockcliffe. In he case of William Murdock Stimpson, accused of stealing 2 trowels and 1 hammer.

19 November 1855

From: 1855 To: 1856

James Bowden: a bricklayer of Dunstable. On Saturday10 November he was at work on the premises of Mr William Blackwell. He left his tools in Mr Blackwell’s stable that night. The door was locked. On the Monday morning the stable door was opened and he missed his tools. He missed a brick trowel, a plastering trowel and a bricklayer’s hammer. Daniel Bull: a bricklayer of Dunstable who was at work at Mr Blackwell’s on Saturday 10 November. He left a trowel in the stable that night. On the Monday morning the stable door was open and the paddock gone. He missed his trowel. Henry Potton: a bricklayer of Dunstable who was at work at Mr Blackwell’s on Saturday 10 November. He left a trowel in the stable that night. On the Monday morning the stable door was open and the paddock gone. He missed his trowel. Charles Reeve: keeper of the Cross Keys public house at Leighton Buzzard. The prisoner came to his house on 12 November and took refreshment which amounted to a shilling. The prisoner had a quantity of tools with him tied up in a handkerchief and he gave Reeve the hammer and 2 trowels to take care of until Tuesday when he would call for them. The prisoner said he would give him a shilling. On Tuesday, Police Inspector Clough called and asked if a bricklayer had called on the Monday afternoon. He told him yes and that he had left some tools. He gave them to the Inspector. Samuel Nash: a builder of Hockcliffe. On the evening of 12 November he was at the Bell Inn at Hockcliffe. The prisoner was there when he went in and asked him if he would buy a trowel. The prisoner went out of the tap room and brought him a trowel. Nash said he would have it and Stimpson brought in another trowel and said he could have 2 for half a crown. He gave Stimpson half a crown. On Wednesday PC Cuttriss came to his house and asked if he had bought 2 trowels from the prisoner. He gave the PC the trowels. Charles Inwards: keeper of the Bell Inn at Hockcliffe. He was present when Nash bought the tools from the prisoner. He had known the prisoner since he was a boy and could swear to him as the man that sold the tools to Nash. Inspector of Police William Clough: In consequence of information received he went to the Cross Keys at Leighton Buzzard. Mr Reeve the landlord gave him the tools. Reeve gave him a description of the man who had left the tools at his house. PC Jeremiah Cuttriss: he took the prisoner into custody and took his to his house. He took 2 trowels out of his pocket and the prisoner said he wished to be sent out of the country. Statement of the accused: nothing to say at present.

item

Stimpson, William Murdock,
Bowden, James,
Inwards, Charles,
Clough, William,
Cuttriss, Jeremiah,
Bull, Daniel,
Potton, Henry,
Reeve, Charles,
Nash, Samuel

DUNSTABLE, Hockcliffe, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, tools, bricklayer, builder, victualler, innkeeper, Hockliffe Bell, Leighton Buzzard Cross Keys