QSR1846/2/5/22

Depositions or examination - James Croft

8 April 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

William Brooks of St Paul Bedford, servant to Mr Blower, surgeon – last Sunday (5 April) he left a green surtout coat in Mr Blower’s gig house, together with a French silk hat, a pair of white cotton gloves and a neck handkerchief. He saw Croft in Mr Blower’s surgery on Sunday evening. To get to the surgery you must pass the gig house. On Monday he missed his coat, hat, gloves and handkerchief. The coat produced by Mr Coombs is the one he lost. He believes the gloves are also his property. Sarah Olams, wife of Thomas Olams of St Paul Bedford, labourer – she knows Croft. Yesterday morning he came to her at her husband’s house and asked her to take the coat to pawn, which he said belonged to Sam Hockley. She took the coat to Mr Jordan but did not pawn it then. She went home and Croft came in about 10 minutes later and asked if she had been. He asked her to take the coat again and she did so. She pledged the coat and took the 2s for it to Croft’s mother’s. Yesterday morning Croft gave her 2d for pawning the coat. The coat produced is the one she took to Mr Jordan’s. Willam Jordan of St Paul Bedford, pawnbroker – the coat produced was brought to him by Sarah Olam yesterday to be pawned. He gave it up to Mr Coombs. Samuel Hockliffe of St Paul Bedford, coachman – he drives the coach from Bedford to Cambridge. He knows Croft. He has looked at the coat produced and had never seen it before. He gave Croft the coat he has on. William Coombs of Bedford, chief constable – he went to Mr Jordan’s and was shown the coat. He apprehended Croft yesterday afternoon and on searching him he took the gloves produced from Croft's coat pocket.

item

Croft, James,
Brooks, William,
Olams, Sarah,
Olams, Thomas,
Jordan, William,
Hockliffe, Samuel,
Coombs, William,
Blower

BEDFORD, Bedford St.Paul, stealing, coat, gloves, hat, handkerchief, surgeon, pawnbroker, coachman, Chief Constable