QSR1846/4/5/15

Depositions and examination - Amos Sturman charged with stealing 2 half crowns and one steel tobacco box from William Potts at Toddington on 26 August 1846

26 August 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

William Potts of Toddington, blacksmith – he lives at William Odell’s beer shop and slept there last night. There are two beds in the room, one occupied by him and the other by William Sturman (the prisoner’s father) and another man. Amos Sturman slept in the same room on the boards. When he got up that morning a steel tobacco box and 2 half crowns were gone from his pocket. The others had gone from the room when he got up. He went to William Sturman to ask if he had seen them, but he said he knew nothing of them. He informed PC Terry. He heard Amos Sturman say to PC Terry that if he would let him go he would find the other half crown. Mary Foxen of Toddington, singlewoman – she lives with May Ann Wise who keeps a small grocer’s shop at Toddington. About 6am this morning Amos Sturman came and asked for 4d worth of sugar candy. They only had 3d worth so he had that. He gave her a half crown to pay for it. She gave him 2 shillings, and either 2 pennies and 2 half pence or one penny and 4 half pence in change. John Hack of Toddington, labourer – he was in Wildman’s public house that morning about 6am when Amos Sturman called him out and asked if he would life ½ pint of beer and gave him a piece of sugar candy. Sturman said he had no money to pay for the beer. After they had been talking about 5 minutes they saw William Odell coming towards them. When Odell was about 80 yards away Sturman went towards him. After Sturman had gone about 20 yards he pulled his hand out of his trousers pocket and dropped something. He went to the place and found 2s, 2 pennies and 2 half pence. Percival Terry of Toddington, police constable – he apprehended Amos Sturman and charged him with stealing the tobacco box and money. Sturman said he knew nothing about it and had not had any money for the last 6 or 7 days. He later learned that Sturman had changed a half crown at Mary Ann Wise’s. He told Sturman so. Sturman said “if you’ll let me go I’ll fetch the other half crown”. He searched Sturman but did not find the other half crown or the tobacco box. Sturman also said “I picked it up in the bedroom” (referring to the half crown). Amos Sturman – he picked up the half crown in the bedroom at the foot of his father’s bed. He knows nothing about the other half crown or the tobacco box.

item

Sturman, Amos,
Potts, William,
Foxen, Mary,
Hack, John,
Terry, Percival,
Sturman, William,
Odell, William,
Wise, Mary Ann

TODDINGTON, stealing, money, blacksmith, police constable, grocer, beer houses