QSR1836/1/5/13

Depositions and examination - George Blows

17 November 1835`

From: 1835 To: 1836

James Porter of Stotfold, beer shop keeper – yesterday evening between 8 and 9pm Samuel Dear (who lives at Radwell) came into his house and paid 5s 6d he owed him for beer he had had at different times. Dear then ordered a gallon of beer to be ready for him to take this morning. He drew the beer into one of his own bottles and put it into Dear’s basket which was under the table in his tap room. George Blows of Stotfold was in the house at the time. Dear came in about 3 minutes after Blows had left. He looked into the basket and found the bottle was gone. He lit a candle in the lantern and went to the house of the constable George Harris. He told Harris he suspected Blows. They went to Blow’s house but he was not at home. On the way back he met Blows and said he meant Blows to go into the cage for taking the bottle of beer. Blows said that if he must he must, and admitted he took the beer. Blows said it stood by the side of the Plough barn, which is ½ mile from his house. When he got there Blows said it was not there and he could not find it, but some women in the Plough public house cried out ”why here’s a bottle here”. He then went into the house and saw it was his bottle. It had his name on it and there was beer in it. There were 2 or 3 people in his house when he missed the beer, but they did not go out. George Harris of Stotfold – he is constable at Stotfold. At about 9pm last night James Porter called on him and told him George Blows had stole a bottle of beer. They went to Blows’ house, then on passing the Plough thought he heard Blows’ voice calling for a pint of beer. He went into the house and saw Blows. He took him by his smock and said “George, I want that bottle which you stole from Mr Porter’s”. Blows said he knew nothing about it. He said he knew Blows did and threatened to take him to the cage. Blows said he was willing to go. He took Blows 20 or 30 yards then he turned and said he would not go. He called for assistance. Blows then said he would tell where the bottle was. They returned to the plough and found the bottle inside the passage of he house near the door and the spot where Blows had first stood. Blows then appeared confused. George Blows – “I took the bottle. I’m very sorry for it. I hope you’ll be as easy as you can with me.”

item

Blows, George,
Porter, James,
Dear, Samuel,
Harris, George

STOTFOLD, Radwell, stealing, beer, beerhouse keeper, constable, Stotfold Plough