QSR1863/4/5/12a

Depositions of Constance Pickering, single woman of Hockcliffe. Elizabeth Hack, single woman of Hockcliffe. Henry Quenby, police constable of Hockcliffe. In the case of John Kilby accused of stealing a silver teaspoon.

5 October 1863

From: 1863 To: 1863

Constance Pickering: a single woman and housekeeper with John Heckford, who kept the White Horse at Hockcliffe. On the morning of 27 September the police constable brought a silver tea spoon into the house and asked if they knew anything about it. She identified it as belonging to Mr Heckford. It was marked with the initials ‘J.M.H’. She had missed the spoon on 23 September and it was valued at 5 shillings. She produced another spoon from the same set. They corresponded exactly. The prisoner had been in the house the same evening she had missed the spoon. Some years ago they had 6 silver spoons but she had not seen more than 2 for a long time. She did not know when the spoon had been stolen but had missed it on the 23 September. She missed a glass of liquor on that evening and had put on the spoons into the glass. Elizabeth Hack: a single woman living with her mother at Hockcliffe. She knew the prisoner John Kilby. On 25 September she was at work for her brother in his garden and she saw the prisoner there. The prisoner took a silver teaspoon out of his pocket and asked if she had seen it. He wanted her to buy it and offered it for a shilling. She gave him a shilling and received the spoon. She gave the spoon up to PC Quenby on 27 September. It bore the initials ‘J.M.H’ On 21 September the prisoner’s mother brought a spoon with the same initial to her and asked if it belonged to her. She said her son had found it. PC Henry Quenby: on Sunday 27 September he received information that John Heckford had lost a silver spoon. From what he had heard he suspected the prisoner and went to the house of the last witness. She delivered him a silver spoon. He showed it to Constance Pickering who identified it as John Heckford’s property. He took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said he did not steal it but had found it 2 or 3 weeks ago on the road next to the National School. Statement of the accused: he reserved his defence.

item

Kilby, John,
Pickering, Constance,
Hack, Elizabeth,
Quenby, Henry

Hockcliffe, stealing, silver, Hockliffe White Horse, housekeeper