QSR1847/4/5/18

Depositions and examination - George Line of Ridgmont charged with stealing a silver watch, 2 brass watch keys and one brass seal (value 14s) from James Harrison

7 September 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

James Harrison of Ridgmont, labourer – the watch, the two keys and seal, now produced is his property. On Saturday morning (Sept 4) when he went to work in the morning he left it hanging above the mantelshelf in the living room in his house at Ridgmont. He did not miss it when he came home in the evening. His wife asked him for it after 9pm that night and he could not find it. The keys and seal were fastened to it by a black watch guard. He did not see it again until Mr Bates produced it. The number of it is 520. The inside case is loose and does not snap. He gave £1 for the watch. Thomas Sanders of Luton, plasterer – he knows George Line. On Sunday afternoon (Sept 5) Line came to his house at Luton and asked for his son Thomas. As his son had gone to Church Line waited for him. On Monday morning Line came again. His son had said to him that Line was in distress and must sell his watch and he advised Line not to do so. Line said he must sell it as he had nothing to live on. He offered to lend Line 6s on the watch until he could get a job to get it back again. Line agreed and he gave him 6s and took the watch. About 2 hours later Line came back and asked for another 6s. They went together to a watchmaker to ask the value and were told 12s. As he was going back he met George Fowler and told him what he was about. Fowler said a watch had been stolen from Ridgment. He went and told Mr Ashton (late superintendent of police). Shortly after Mr Bates came to him and he gave him the watch. It is the watch now produced with the same string, keys and seal. James Bates, police superintendent – having heard of the loss of Harrison’s watch and that Line had absconded from Ridgmont he went to Luton in search of him. He received the watch now produced from Sanders. He found Line and took him into custody. Line said he knew nothing about any watch. He searched Line but only found 3d. George Line – he was going to buy the watch from George Read of Ridgmont who brought it to him against Mr Gosley’s gate. He said he could not buy it without money unless he sold it again. Read then said he could have it and give him some money when he had sold it. He has spent 4s of the 6s he received and his sister has 2s to give to Read.

item

Line, George,
Harrison, James,
Sanders, Thomas,
Bates, James,
Read, George,
Ashton

RIDGMONT, LUTON, stealing, watches, plasterer, police superintendents