QSR1846/2/5/7

Depositions and examination - William Britten charged wtih stealing a fustian coat, value £1 6s from John Bunker at Lidlington on 28 March 1846

30 March 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

John Bunker of Husborne Crawley, tailor – about a fortnight ago Britten gave him an order for a white moleskin coat. Britten is a stranger to him and works on the railway line. He made the coat and last Saturday (Mar 28) he took it to a house at Lidlington according to Britten’s orders. He found Britten outside the Flying Horse public house. Britten asked to try it on. He said they had better go into the house. Britten said “we can try it outside” and put the coat on. He was about to go into the house and Britten said he would follow. As he was at the door Britten ran away with the coat towards Lidlington village. It had not been paid for. Britten was to give him £1 1s for the coat without buttons, which he was to pay for separately. He only let Britten have the coat to try on as he would have to alter it or make another if it did not fit. It was the coat produced by PC Kitchener. He had no intention of parting with the coat without the money. He ran after Britten but could not catch him so went back to find a police constable. Britten was sober enough to know what he was doing. John Kitchener of Ridgmont, police constable – about 9.45 on Saturday night he was on duty between Ridgmont and Lidlington when he met Bunker. He went with Bunker to search for Britten. They met him against the Flying Horse, coming towards Ridgmont. He found the coat on Britten’s arm. He tried to take Britten into custody but was prevented by a number of persons present who were strangers to him. Britten resisted and kicked him on the knee and in the face. He later went with 3 other policemen and apprehended Britten at his lodgings at about 4.30am on Sunday morning. At the time of the struggle Britten called out for any “navi’s” to come and assist him. Several did so in addition to those who were already around him. William Britten – when he took the jacket he was making a bit of a game and he was going to take it back to him again. He had 19s of the money in his pocket. He was going to give him that and pay him the rest the next day.

item

Britten, William,
Bunker, John,
Kitchener, John

LIDLINGTON, HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, RIDGMONT, stealing, coat, tailor, police constable, railway worker, Lidlington Flying Horse