QSR1847/2/5/1

Depositions, examination and letter - William Murdock Stimpson, charged with stealing a bedstead from George Giddings

4 January 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

George Giddings of Dunstable, plumber and glazier – about 3 weeks ago he lost a bedstead which was in a carpenter’s shop adjoining his premises at Dunstable when he last saw it. PC Hornal showed him the bedstead produced which is one he painted himself. He had some conversation with Stimpson a fortnight ago. Stimpson came to him and said “master, concerning the bedstead, I am the man that took it and I am very sorry for it. I beg your pardon and I will bring it back if you don’t say anything about it”. He said that if Stimpson had brought it back before he would have made it up with him, but he could not as he had put it into police hands. Stimpson was not in his employ. William Murdock Stimpson – he bought the bedstead from a man he did not know. Samuel Hornal of Dunstable, police constable – from information received he went on 22 December to the house of Samuel Brett at Luton and saw a bedstead there which answered the description of the one lost by Mr Giddings. He took possession of it. Brett said he had received it from William Stimpson. The bedstead produced is the one he took from Brett. He received the letter now produced from Mr Giddings. Samuel Brett of Luton, auctioneer – on 12 December he was going to Dunstable. Just before he got there he met Stimpson who asked if he had received a bedstead from Deacon. He said he had not. Stimpson said he was coming over to see him. He told Stimpson he would be at home in the evening. In the afternoon one of Mr Deacon’s men brought him the bedstead now produced. Stimpson came to him in the evening and asked if he would buy the bedstead. He told Stimpson he could not see I that night. Stimpson wanted 5s on it. Two or three days later he gave Stimpson another shilling and told him that was all it was worth. Stimpson agreed and took it. On 21s he put the bedstead in an auction, but there were no bidders. His principal business is buying and reselling furniture. Two of the police constables came about the bedstead and he told them they might have it whenever they pleased. Letter [unsigned but apparently from Stimpson] to Mr Giddings, Dunstable [spelling corrected]: “Dear Sir, My mind was pressed to write these few lines to you upon this awful sentence which will be passed upon me. Sir you are aware that if you do press the charge against me that I shall be banished from my home and my wife and child left to the frown of everyone. I must tell you Sir that my wife and me don’t get one bit of rest. I now humbly beg and pray that you will not swear to the bedstead as they can not compel you to do so. And if there is anything to pay it will be paid. I now do humbly beg and pray that you will not swear to it and spare me to stay at home with my wife and child. And I will leave off all bad company, swearing and drunkenness, and be a steady young man for the time to come if you will spare me this time. Sir I should be most happy if you could step up this evening and see my Father and Mother.”

item

Stimpson, William Murdock,
Giddings, George,
Hornal, Samuel,
Brett, Samuel

DUNSTABLE, stealing, furniture, plumbers, glaziers, police constables, auctioneers