QSR1846/4/5/1

Depositions - Joseph Edwards

14 July 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

William Blundell of Podington, tailor – early that morning (14 July) he was at the Swan public house at Sharnbrook. He had his hat on at about 1am when he fell asleep. He was woken by PC Miller who brought his hat to him. Miller said “Blundell you’ve lost your hat and I’ve been after it”. His name is written inside in pencil. Joseph Miller, no.26 of Bedfordshire Rural Police – at about 2.30am he was on duty at Sharnbrook. It was Sharnbrook Feast. He concealed himself until the people had left the Swan. He went down to the stalls near the Swan and found Blundell fast asleep. He looked around the stalls for Blundell’s hat but could not find it. He saw 3 men going down the street including Edwards who had the hat in his hand. When Edwards saw him coming he put the hat over the wall. He followed Edwards and caught him at the Sharnbrook Turnpike Gate about 20 yards from where he put the hat. Edwards denied knowing anything about a hat. He took Edwards back with him to where the hat was. When he picked up the hat Edwards ran away. When they all got back to the stall Edwards said he and two other men had agreed to take the hat as a joke. The other two men denied this and said they knew nothing about it. He supposes the value of the hat to be 6 shillings.

item

Edwards, Joseph,
Blundell, William,
Miller, Joseph

PODINGTON, stealing, hat, tailor, policeman, feasts, Sharnbrook Swan