QSR1837/2/5/8

Depositions and examination - James Roberts charged with stealing a copper tea kettle from William Ashby

16 March 1837

From: 1837 To: 1837

William Ashby of St John, Bedford, coach harness maker – he lives in Upton’s Yard in the parish of St John. On Tuesday evening 14 March he saw his wife place a copper tea kettle which she had used to boil water for tea on the ground outside the door. About ¼ later his wife found the kettle was gone and asked if he had taken it in. He said he had not. Yesterday he told Mary Paviour who lives next door of his loss, and asked her to make enquiries. Last night when he returned home he saw the 3 pieces of copper now produced by John Paviour, constable, which were given to him by his wife, and part of the handle of the kettle. He knows it from marks and from the general appearance. William Gobby, son of Thomas Gobby of Pepper Alley, St John, Bedford – last night he was playing about their court when James Roberts came up to him and said he wanted him. Roberts gave him the three pieces of copper kettle and asked him to go and sell them. He took them to Mr Flod and sold them for 3d. He told Mr Flood he found them in the muck. He gave the money to Roberts, who gave him a penny out of it. He left Roberts and went and spent his penny, then afterwards went and played in the yard. Mary Ashby, wife of William Ashby – she agrees with her husband’s evidence. About 8pm last night John Flood, whitesmith, brought the pieces of copper kettle to her and asked if she knew anything about them. She saw they wre part of the handle of a copper kettle she had lost on Tuesday evening. She bought the kettle for about 7s from Mr Kilpin a few months ago. John Flood of St mary, Bedford, whitesmith – on Wednesday vening 15 March Wm Gobby brought the 3 pieces of copper now produced to his shop and asked him to buy them. From information he had received that morning he suspected the prisoner had not come by it honestly. When asked he said he found it in a muck hill some time ago. He asked his name, which he said was William Gobby and that he lived in Pepper Alley. He gave Gobby 3d for it and let him go. After he bought the copper he took it to Mrs Ashby who said it was part of the handle of her kettle. He went to Gobby’s house and from conversation he had with him in the presence of his parents he sent Gobby for Roberts who lives in the same alley. He asked Roberts where he got the kettle hand – Roberts said it was from the gutter at the bottom of the alley, and took him to the place. John Paviour, one of the constables of Bedford – he received the pieces of copper from William Ashby that morning. James Roberts of St John Bedford – yesterday morning (15 March) he left home and when he got to the bottom of the Alley he stopped a little while. He saw something laying in the gutter that was sticking up. He kicked it and it shone, so he picked it up. It was the largest piece of copper. One end was lying over the drain and the other end was in the gutter sticking up. He then searched about the gutter with his hands and found the other 2 pieces.

item

Roberts, James,
Ashby, William,
Gobby, William,
Gobby, Thomas,
Paviour, John,
Paviour, Mary,
Ashby, Mary,
Flood, John

BEDFORD, Bedford St.John, Bedford Pepper Alley, stealing, household goods, harness maker, constable, whitesmith