QSR1892/1/5/3b

Depositions of Mary Pearson of 45 Queen Street, Bedford; Bessie Armour of 11 Rose Terrace Biggleswade; George Daniels Inspector of Police Biggleswade; Charles Cheshire Police Sergeant of Shefford. In the case of Arthur Beddoe alias Horace Bosworth alias Arthur Blanchard who is charged this day before us for that he the said Arthur Beddoe on the ninth day of December One thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety One at Shefford in the county aforesaid feloniously did steal one silver Verge watch and one Pinch back watch together of the value of 17/- the property of one Mary Pearson.

16th December 1891

From: 1891 To: 1892

Depositions of Mary Pearson of 45 Queen Street, Bedford; Bessie Armour of 11 Rose Terrace Biggleswade; George Daniels Inspector of Police Biggleswade; Charles Cheshire Police Sergeant of Shefford. This Deponent Mary Pearson on her Oath saith as follows: I am a widow and live at 45 Queens Street Bedford. On Saturday 14th Nov. 1891 the prisoner called at my house and asked for lodgings. I told him I had a spare room and could take him in. He arranged with me for board and lodgings at 12/6 per week he also stated he was a Telegraph clerk and was now transferred to the Midland Railway Station at Bedford. On the morning of the 16th Nov. he left at 8.30 a.m. returned to his dinner at 12 – left again about 1 o’clock and retuned at 6p.m. stayed in all the evening – Tuesday the next day he went out as usual and returned at night about same time – the following morning Wednesday 18th November he left about 8.30 a.m. and returned at 12.30 noon he had dinner and left at 1.40 p.m. and I did not see him again – about 3 o’clock the same afternoon I missed my late husbands watch from over the mantel piece in the living room – I then went upstairs into my sleeping room and missed my son’s watch. On Saturday 12th December last I went to the Bedford Borough Police Office where I met Inspector Daniels and was shown the two watches now produced and I identified them as my property and value them at 17/-. I also identified the prisoner as the man who lodged at my house. I know the silver watch by the minute hand being short the other I know by its general appearance. This Deponent Bessie Armour on her oath saith: - I am the wife of William Armour late of Shefford and by Order of Judicial Separation now separated from my husband and residing at 11 Rose Terrace Biggleswade – On the 18th Nov. last the prisoner came to lodge at my house and left again on Friday 20th Nov. after he had left my house I noticed he had left a watch behind which I handed to Insp. Daniels one of the watches now produced is the same. This Deponent George Daniels on his Oath saith:- I am Inspector of Police stationed at Biggleswade – On the 20th Nov. last I went to No. 11 Rose Terrace Biggleswade. I there saw Mrs Armour who handed to me the Pinch Back Watch now produced – and on the 9th December P. S. Cheshire handed me the silver verge watch now produced which I saw him take from the prisoner – On Saturday 12th December I showed the two watches to the prosecutrix Mary Pearson at the Borough Police Station at Bedford who identified them – The prisoner was present at the tome I then charged him with stealing the two watches from the witness Pearson’s house at Bedford on the 18th November last – He replied I have nothing to say about it. This Deponent Charles Cheshire upon his Oath saith:- I am a Police Sergeant stationed at Shefford – On the 9th Dec. last. I arrested the prisoner on another charge at Shefford and on searching the prisoner I found the silver watch produced on hom and I handed it to Insp. Daniels Statement of accused I don’t say anything

7 pages

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Pearson, Mary,
Armour, Bessie,
Daniels, George,
Cheshire, Charles

BEDFORD, BIGGLESWADE, SHEFFORD, lodging house keeper, clerk, police inspector, police sergeant, stealing, watches