QSR1836/4/5/17

Depositions, examination and letter from the accused - John Cox, charged wtih stealing 2 handkerchives (value 1s) from William Chapman

1 September 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

Elizabeth Chapman, wife of William Chapman of St Mary, Bedford, milkman – yesterday afternoon between 3 and 4pm she hung some clothes she had been washing on the hedge in a field close to her house. They included some silk handkerchiefs and some neckerchiefs. Between 5 and 6pm she went to take them in and found one white neckerchief and one silk pocket kerchief missing. Last night she went to the Windmill public house and her husband who was there showed her the silk handkerchief (now produced). She knows it by the marks caused by wear. The white neckerchief appears to be hers. Sarah Webb, wife of William Webb of St Mary, Bedford, retail beer seller – between 4 and 5pm yesterday Cox came to their house and called for ½ pint of beer. When she gave him the beer he produced a white neckerchief and a silk pocket handkerchief and asked if she would buy them as he was in great distress and had no money to pay for his night’s lodging. She asked him how long he had had the white handkerchief and she said 12 months. She bought it from him for 6d, and gave him 5d and part of a small loaf. He had previously paid her for the beer. Last night about 8pm she was sent for by Paviour the constable. She gave him the constable. Henry Henshaw of St Mary, Bedford, barber – last night between 6 and 7pm Cox came to his shop to be shaved. Cox asked him to let him shave himself, which he did. While he was shaving Cox pleaded great poverty and offered to sell him a silk pocket handkerchief. At first he refused but on Cox saying he had no money to pay for his night’s lodging he agreed to buy it for one shilling. Cox said he had come honestly by it. About ½ hour later he went into the Leg of Mutton public house which is next door to his shop. William Chapman came in and hearing he had bought a silk handkerchief he asked to see it. Chapman said it belonged to him and had been taken off the hedge near his house that afternoon. He gave the handkerchief up to Chapman. William Chapman – yesterday afternoon 2 handkerchiefs were taken from a hedge near his house. Last night he went to deliver some milk at the Leg of Mutton public house, High Street, St Mary, and saw Cox with a handkerchief round his neck which he thought very like one of those he had lost. He left the house to serve some of his other customers, then he returned to make some enquiries of the prisoner. On his return he asked Henshaw if Cox had offered a silk handkerchief for sale. Henshaw said he had bought one from him for 1s. He asked to see it and recognized it as his property. He then went to look for Cox and met him near St Mary’s Square. They walked together to the Windmill public house where he took him in. He sent for Paviour and gave Cox into custody. He had not said anything to him about the robbery up to this point. After he gave Cox into custody he confessed he had stolen 2 handkerchiefs off a hedge, and said poverty and great distress caused him to do it. Cox said he had sold the white neckerchief at the Haycock and the silk pocket handkerchief to a barber down the street. John Paviour, one of the constables of Bedford – the handkerchiefs now produced are those he received last night from Mrs Webb and Mr William Chapman. When Cox was given into his charge he said “I stole the handkerchiefs and sold one at the Haycock public House and the other to a barber. I did the deed and I hope you’ll let me go”. John Cox – declines to say anything in his defence. Letter to the Chairman of the Magistrates at the Quarter Sessions, signed by John Cocks: “This humble petition of your unfortunate prisoner prays your favourable consideration and mercy. Your petitioner does not presume to imagine that any degree of distress in the eyes of the law would prove an effectual excuse for the violation thereof; yet with deep feelings of humility, the prayer of this supplication approaches the Justice of this Court for its Mercy. Having no trade, nor connexion with any embodied society, to obtain passing relief, and having been many miles seeking situations such as I might be capable of filling but without success, thereby reduced myself to the greatest privation. Since I have been committed (7 weeks) my health had been considerably restored, as the Governor can testify that when imprisoned, fully displayed penury and want. Such gentlemen being the state to which circumstances had reduced me, was the alone cause of my yielding to the commission of a crime which I lament and abhor. Should my situation be considered by this honorable Court with any degree of clemency, your humble supplicant and Prisoner will for ever be in duty bound to pray etc.”

item

Cox, John,
Chapman, William,
Chapman, Elizabeth,
Webb, Sarah,
Webb, William,
Henshaw, Henry,
Paviour, John

BEDFORD, Bedford St.Mary, stealing, handkerchief, milkman, beer retailer, barber, constable, Bedford Windmill, Bedford Haycock, Bedford Leg of Mutton, general poverty