QSR1846/4/5/2

Depositions and examination - John Faulkner of Marston Moretaine, charged with stealing 2 linen sheets from William Cook at Marston Moretaine on 29 May 1846

30 June 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

Rebecca Cook, wife of William Cook of Marston Moretaine, victualler – 2 years ago last November she left a pair of unbleached sheets on the hedge between her husband’s garden and the orchard during the night. The next morning her servant told her the sheets were gone. She heard nothing more of them until 29 May when she was in the garden and looked into an adjoining barn in the occupation of John Faulkner and saw the sheets hanging in the barn across a fork. She called Elizabeth Two who lives nearby. She showed her the sheets and told her she believed them to be hers. She went to Faulkner’s wife who denied the sheets were hers. She asked to look at them but Faulkner’s wife refused. When she said she would have the premises searched Faulkner’s wife invited her in and said her husband took them, though she begged him not to as she could never hang them out to dry. Faulkner’s wife begged her to go hom and be quiet and said she would bring the sheets when her [Cook’s] husband was not at home. On the morning on 30 May Faulkner’s wife sent Elizabeth Two with the sheets. She told her husband about it on 1 June. She did not see Faulkner until 4 June. She shook her head at him and said “John, I did not think you would have done this seeing such a neighbour I have been to you. If you don’t wish to be taken you had better make you escape for I am sure my husband will have you taken”. Before returning them Faulkner’s wife came to her house, asked how much the sheets had cost and said she would pay for them, as they had been worn so much. She refused and said she wanted the sheets. When she spoke to Faulkner about making his escape he did not say anything, but appeared to be in great trouble. She bought the sheets and had them made up by Mary French with glover’s thread. They are not marked. She had another pair the same made up at the same time. About ¼ hour after she spoke to Faulkner she saw him leave his house quite clean as if not going to work. She did not see him again for 3 weeks or a month. He keeps a horse and cart. She used to see him nearly every day before. The sheets produced are the ones found in the barn, and she knows them to be hers by their make and by their being unbleached. Elizabeth Two, wife of Stephen Two of Marston, labourer – the day Mrs Cook spoke to her about the sheets Faulkner’s wife brought a pair of sheets to her house. She had previously been to Mrs Faulkner at Mrs Cook’s request to say that if the sheets were returned she would be satisfied. The sheets produced are the ones she gave to Mrs Cook the next day. She never spoke to John Faulkner about the sheets and he was not present when she spoke to his wife about them. Mary French, wife of John French of Marston, labourer – she remembers making 2 pairs of sheets for Mrs Cook nearly 3 years ago. The were of unbleached cloth made up with glover’s thread. The recognised the sheets produced as her own work. Charles Flint, police constable – he apprehended Faulkner on a warrant on 24 June. He received the pair of sheets from Mrs Cook on 28th. When he told Faulkner he was apprehended for stealing Mr Cook’s sheets, Faulkner said “can he swear to them?” John Faulkner – denies the charge

item

Faulkner, John,
Cook, William,
Cook, Rebecca,
Two, Elizabeth,
French, Mary,
Flint, Charles,
Two, Stephen,
French, John

MARSTON MORETAINE, stealing, linen, household goods, victualler