QSR1847/4/5/8/a

Depositions - William Paternoster

2 August 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

Diana Angel of Henlow – last Saturday (July 31) at about 12.30pm she say Mrs Church and Mrs Angel, who live in adjoining houses in Henlow, leave their houses, she supposed to take their husbands’ dinner into the field. She saw Paternoster pass by and go through a gap into a field adjoining one in which Mrs Church’s house stands. She then lost sight of Paternoster. She did not suspect anything wrong so did not watch him. Son afterwards she had occasion to go to Mrs Angel’s to cook her dinner. Passing Mrs Church’s house she looked through the window and saw a hole in the opposite wall. She called Mrs Church’s daughter who lives next door. They returned to Mrs Church’s house and found a large hole made in the wall and the staircase door open. Thomas Link – on 31 July having heard that Mrs Church’s house had been broken open and that William Paternoster was suspected he went into a field where he was at work and took him into custody. He found some coppers in his jacket mixed with silver, a farthing in one of his breech’s pockets and a bag with a half-sovereign in it in the other. Paternoster told him when he left home he had a sovereign which he had changed and paid a shoe-maker 4 shillings. He made enquiries and found that statement was true. The money in Paternoster’s waistcoat consisted of 4 half crowns, 3 six pennies, 7 penny pieces and 8 half pence. Elizabeth Church of Henlow – on Saturday 31 July she left her house to take her husband’s dinner into the field where he was at work. She was gone about an hour and a quarter. On her return she found a large hole in the back wall of her house. At first she thought it had fallen down. The door was as she left it. The staircase was open. In about an hour and half she went upstairs to dust her room and saw her husband’s best clothes which she had put into the coffer on the Monday before lying in a chair by the bedside, and also a waistcoat which she had put into the coffer that morning. She then looked for her husband’s watch which she had left at the head of the bed. It was still there. She opened the coffer and found a small wooden box in which she kept her money had been broken open. A little tin box and a paper wrapper which had contained the money were still there but the money – a sovereign and a half – had been taken. Simon Folbig of Henlow, bootmaker – last Saturday 31 July just as he was going to dinner William Paternoster called at his shop and gave him a sovereign from which he wanted him to take 4 shillings he owed him. He was surprised as on the previous Wednesday Paternoster had asked how much he was in his debt, and when told replied that he did not have sufficient money then but if he earned any that week he would pay him. Sarah Angel – she lives at Henlow next door to Mrs Church. About 12.20pm on Saturday Mrs Church asked her if she was ready to take her husband’s dinner to him. William Paternoster was passing at the time, and she thinks he must have heard what was said. She replied that she was almost ready. They then started together. Paternoster looked at Mrs Church when she asked if she was ready. George Tingay of Henlow, shopkeeper – he knows Paternoster. On Saturday about 2pm Paternoster came to his shop to purchase 2 faggots and tendered half a sovereign. He gave him 3 half crowns, 1 shilling and six pence in silver and 4 pence in copper. Paternoster then bought some ham and bread for which he gave one shilling and received 2d change. Paternoster left the shop for 5 minutes, returned, and bought a sickle for which he gave half a crown and received 10d in change.

item

Paternoster, William,
Angel, Diana,
Link, Thomas,
Church, Elizabeth,
Folbig, Simon,
Angel, Sarah,
Tingay, George

HENLOW, breaking & entering, bootmaker, shopkeeper, farm labourer