QSR1865/3/5/15

Depositions of John Malin the younger of Wootton. James Low, labourer at Wootton. In the case William Billing accused of stealing a gun.

29 April 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

John Malin: on 15 April he went home about 5pm and saw a gun standing in his father’s barn. It was his gun. Half and hour later the gun had gone. He same night he met Billing coming along the road. His father said, in Billing’s hearing “here is the man and here is the gun”. His father took the gun from Billing’s hand and put it on the table. Billing stopped at his father’s house until 10pm. [cross examination] his father was in Bedford when he missed the gun. His father came home about 6pm and he told him the gun had been stolen. His father told James Low to go up the road and that if he found the man he was to have a shilling. James Low was with the prisoner when he met him. Low went to his father’s house for his shilling. The window of the barn had been broken. His father said that if Billing paid Low the shilling and paid for the repair to the window he would leave [?] it. Billing paid Low the shilling and 8d for the window. James Low: on 8 April he went to Malin’s house and Malin said in Billing’s presence that he had lost a gun. Billing said he knew nothing about it. Malin told him to watch Billing and he would get a shilling. When Billing left he went after him and saw him go to the side of the hedge and take the gun out. He caught hold of Billing and Billing replied “I am done”. He went with Billing and met Malin. At the house, Billing said to Malin he would pay 8 shillings for it. Malin said he would take no money from him but he must give him [Low] a shilling for catching him and pay for the window to be mended.

item

Billing, William,
Malin, John,
Low, James

WOOTTON, stealing, guns