QSR1838/4/5/21

Depositions - Mary O'Neal charged with stealing a watch from George Woodward at Biggleswade (Lucy Baxter also mentioned on one deposition)

29 September 1838

From: 1838 To: 1838

George Woodward of Biggleswade, labourer - he was going home past Henshaw's beer shop at 9.30pm the previous night when Mary O'Neal came up to him and said he should go up the road with her. She dragged him along and then tried to pull his watch out of his pocket. He would not let go of the chain. She halloed and a man came behind him and put his hands over his mouth and eyes, and Mary O'Neal got his watch out of his pocket and ran away with it. The chain broke and he kept hold of it. The watch produced is his. James Barber of Biggleswade, constable - he was sent for to Mr Henshaw's last night to take up two young women on a charge of stealing George Woodward's watch. He found them at Charles Henshaw's beer shop. Mrs Henshaw searched them but did not find anything. Shortly afterwards John Newman found a watch on the ground outside Henshaw's window with a small piece of chain (now produced). John Newman of Biggleswade - he was standing in the street near Henshaw's beer shop when he heard a watch ticking. As the young man with him said he had not got his watch he felt about on the ground and found a watch which he took to Barber the constable. George Braunch who was with him picked the watch up.

item

O'Neal, Mary,
Baxter, Lucy,
Woodward, George,
Barber, James,
Henshaw, Charles,
Newman, John

BIGGLESWADE, stealing, watches, constable, beerhouses