QSR1856/1/5/14

Depositions of Thomas Warren, brazier of Biggleswade, Richard Tod, police constable of Biggleswade and Peter Dear, marine store dealer of Biggleswade. In the case of William Oliver, labourer of Biggleswade, accused of stealing 3 pounds weight of copper.

14 November 1855

From: 1855 To: 1856

Thomas Warren: an apprentice to Mr Isaac White. On 7 November he and the prisoner were working for his master repairing some troughing to a cottage belonging to John Harvey esquire at Northill. Whist employed there the prisoner found a quantity of copper troughing attached to the cottage but covered by ivy which had grown over it. They took a quantity down and when they left, the prisoner carried it to Biggleswade. On reaching the house where the prisoner lodged, Oliver took a quantity of the copper for the basket and put it in the house. They took the remained copper to their master’s shop. On 8 November, they went to work again at the same place and had their master’s horse and cart with them. They took down a quantity of copper troughing and took it to Biggleswade. On reaching Oliver’s lodging, they stopped and Oliver took some more copper from the cart and put it in the house. They went on to their masters and gave him the remainder. Warren guessed Oliver took 3 or 4 pounds of copper on each occasion. He believed the copper produced by the policeman to be the same as taken from Mr Harvey’s house. PC Richard Tod: on 10 November he went to Peter Dear’s house and found a quantity of copper. He afterwards apprehended William Oliver on the charge of stealing it. When he told Oliver the charge, Oliver began to cry and said he knew all about it. He took possession of the copper which was about 11 pounds in weight. Peter Dear: on 10 November he bought a quantity of copper of Mrs Thody [?] sister of the prisoner. The prisoner lodged with her. Having reason to doubt the copper he gave the information to the police. Statement of the accused: he only wished to say that when he took the copper from the cottage, Warren said that if he was me he would not let his master have it all but would keep some of it and would get some beer with it.

item

Oliver, William,
Warren, Thomas,
Tod, Richard,
Dear, Peter,
Harvey, John

BIGGLESWADE, NORTHILL, stealing, copper, brazier, marine store dealer