QSR1856/4/5/14

Depositions of James Tate, schoolmaster of Riseley, John King, rural police constable of Turvey and Richard Young, vicar of Riseley. In the case of John Milton accused of stealing 2 silver tea spoons.

13 October 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

James Tate: on 11 October he was assisting servants in Mr Young’s house. He was putting away the plate and counting it. He found 4 silver tea spoons missing. He acquainted the housemaid with the loss and they searched the house. He found one of the missing spoons in the dairy. About 9pm he was called by the cook and housemaid to go upstairs and went into Milton’s bedroom. There he saw the cook, Ann Lawson, take 2 silver tea spoons out of the pocket of a pair of trousers that were hanging on a small clothes horse in the room. He had seen Milton wear the trousers. The housemaid, Eliza Hanger, was also present. He observed the teaspoon were the same as those he had been cleaning and had missed. He also observed the bowl of the spoons had peculiar marks like scratches. About 8pm he had seen the prisoner, who was groom to Mr Young, about the loss of the spoons. Milton said he knew nothing about them. The previous Monday and Tuesday, Mr Young had company and Milton assisted in washing up the plate. John King: on 12 October he went to Mr Young’s. He received the 2 spoons from Mr Young. On being charged the prisoner said he knew nothing of the spoons. Whilst in custody, Milton said he would rather pay for the spoons than have any bother about them. Milton said he must have put the spoons in his pocket when helping with the washing up and he was very sorry for it and would never do anything like it again. Richard Young: he was informed of the loss of 2 silver tea spoons and a search was made. About 8pm the housemaid told him the spoons were found and he told her to bring them to him, which she did. Next morning he gave the spoons into the possession of the police constable and followed him to the prisoner’s room. Milton called God to be his witness that he knew nothing about it. The policeman took him into custody. He heard Milton say to the policeman that he would rather pay for them than be taken off. Statement of the accused: all he had to say was he believed he was guilty of it. He took them one night, Wednesday he believed. He would rather pay for them than have to go to Bedford. He would never do anything of the sort again.

item

Milton, John,
Tate, James,
King, James,
Young, Richard,
Hanger, Eliza,
Lawson, Ann

RISELEY, stealing, silver, schoolmaster, vicar