QSR1858/1/5/4

Depositions of John Budd, agent of Dunstable, John Hickman, postman of Dunstable, George Langley, labourer of Dunstable, William Botterill, plumber of Dunstable and Jeremiah Cuttriss, police constable of Dunstable. In the case of James Chapman accused of stealing a quantity of lead.

7 December 1857

From: 1857 To: 1858

John Budd: an agent to Mrs Mary Brown who has a property in Dunstable in the occupation of James Stevens. On the morning of 2 December he examined the house in the occupation of James Stevens and missed a quantity of lead from the roof. He saw the lead on 30 November. On 2 December he saw new lead fitted on the building by William Botterill and from the manner in which it was fitted he had no doubt it was the property of Mrs Brown. The value was about 15 shillings. John Hickman: about 6.45am on 2 December he had been delivering his letters and saw the prisoner at the back of Steven’s premises. Chapman was on a short ladder against Steven’s cowhouse and had his right arm on the slates. When he came back Chapman had gone and so had the ladder. About a quarter of an hour later he saw Chapman against Mr Elliott’s carrying something on his shoulder. It appeared to be something heavy. He saw Chapman later that morning in the market and asked him what he was doing that morning. Chapman said he was stripping lead because he wanted to do it and did not say who had told him to do it. George Langley: on 2 December Chapman asked him to take a hamper up the road and he would come with him and he asked him to write directions for him. The directions were to William Bridges no.13 Great Pearl Street of Spittle Fields in London. As he was leaving the yard with the hamper PC Cuttriss came and asked what he had and he replied he did not know. PC Cuttriss took possession of the hamper. He saw the PC open it and it had zinc and lead in it. William Botterill: on 2 December he fitted some pieces of lead on Mr Steven’s cowhouse. He received the lead from PC Cuttriss. The lead fitted exactly and the mail hold corresponded. PC Jeremiah Cuttriss: on 2 December he went to the prisoner’s yard and met Langley coming out with a hamper. He opened the hamper and found lead. He asked the prisoner where he had got the lead and he said he had bought it from a man whom he did not know. He took the prisoner into custody. Afterwards he went with Botterill and compared the lead with that missed from the cow house. It fitted exactly. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Chapman, John,
Budd, John,
Hickman, John,
Langley, George,
Botterill, William,
Cuttriss, Jeremiah,
Brown, Mary,
Bridges, William

DUNSTABLE, plumber, stealing, lead, postman, agent