Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1867/1/5/9-10
  • Title
    Depositions of Harriet Gaskins, wife of George, labourer of Leighton Buzzard. Emma Elkerton, widow of Leighton Buzzard. Jane Gilbert, wife of James, a solider of Leighton Buzzard. Elizabeth Jennings, wife of John, a labourer of Wing in Buckinghamshire. John Horne, police constable stationed at Heath & Reach. In the cases of George Rogers, butcher, accused of stealing a purse and its contents of 6s 6d, and Frederick Langham, stableman, accused of receiving said items. Both of the accused were from Ledburn, Buckinghamshire.
  • Date free text
    13 November 1866
  • Production date
    From: 1866 To: 1867
  • Scope and Content
    Harriet Gaskins: she was at Leighton Fair about 3pm on 24 October and stood opposite the Boot Inn looking at a roundabout. She had 2 young women with her. Someone touched her shoulder and she turned her head to see George Rogers. She did not know him. He went to her right hand side and said “How be you to day”. She replied “very well thankee sir”. She felt something in her pocket and saw it was Roger’s hand. She grabbed hold of him and told him to take his hand out. He did so and went about a yard from her. She missed her purse which had 6s 6d in it in silver. She asked him for her purse and he replied “stand a quart”. She told him that if he did not give it to her she would have him locked up. He used bad language and said if she asked for it again he would knock her head from her shoulders. She saw his right hand down by the side of him. She saw him put his hand in that of Langham. She told Rogers she saw him give the young man her purse and Langaham said “stand a quart and say no more about it”. A police constable came up and she gave the prisoners into his charge. They all went to the police station. Langham said “did not you allow Rogers to put his hand I your pocket”. She answered that she did not. She had left the house that afternoon about 2.30pm and she had not been talking to Rogers. She did not send Jane Gilber to look after anything at home and she had not seen her purse at the Alms houses. She had not seen it since she left home but had felt it by the Alms houses. She had not seen him give Langham the purse. She did not know Rogers to speak to. She had not said she did not know what her purse contained. Emma Elkerton: a widow living in Leighton Buzzard. On 24 October she was at Leighton Fair with Mrs Gaskins and Mrs Gilbert. They were standing by the Boot Inn looking at the roundabout. The prisoner, Rogers, came to Mrs Gaskins and touched her left shoulder and then went to her right hand side. She saw him put his hand into her pocket. Mrs Gaskins caught hold of it and told him to keep his hand out. She told him if he did not take his hand out then worse would follow. Rogers turned a yard from her and turned to Langham. Mrs Gaskins went to Rogers and asked him for her purse. Rogers said “stand a quart” and then abused Mrs Gaskins and said he would knock her head from her shoulders. Langham stood about a yard from Rogers. She saw no one else but children. She saw Rogers go to Langham and put his hand towards his. She did not see a purse. She lived with Mrs Gaskins and they had left home about 2.30pm. Jane Gilbert went down the town with them. Rogers had his whip in his left hand when his right was in Mrs Gaskins pocket. Rogers did not say he had not seen the purse. Mrs Gaskins did not say to Mrs Gilbert to go and see if she had left her purse at home. Mrs Gaskins and Rogers had not been talking and laughing together. Jane Gilbert: he husband, James, was a solider and they lived in Leighton. She was at the Leighton Fair with Mrs Gaskins and Mrs Elkerton. They stood opposite the Boot looking at a roundabout. She saw Rogers had in Mrs Gaskins pocket. Mrs Gaskins told him to take his hand out and when he had taken it out she said she had lost her purse. Langham was stood very close to Rogers when Mrs Gaskins asked Rogers for her purse. She and the last 2 witnesses came to the fair together. She heard Rogers ask Gaskins how she was and the incident directly took place. She did not run home but went home of her own accord. Mrs Gaskins did not tell her to go and see if she had left her purse at home. Rogers had a whip or stick in one hand. Elizabeth Jennings: she was near the Boot Inn on Fair day at about 3pm. She saw the 3 women witnesses there and heard Mrs Gaskins ask the prisoner for her purse. The prisoner said he had not got it. Mrs Gaskins replied she was sure that he did. She saw Rogers put his hand in his pocket and take something out. Rogers held it up and said “is this it”. Gaskins said it was her purse and asked for it again many times. She saw the prisoner, Langham, there a small distance from the prisoner Rogers. Pc John Horne: on 24 October, about 3pm, he was near the Cross in Leighton. He went opposite the Boot and saw the prisoners and the women witnesses. Mrs Gaskins charged Rogers with taking her purse containing 6s 6d and Langham with receiving it. He took both men into custody and to the police station. He heard Langham say to Mrs Gaskins “did not you allow Rogers to put his hand in your pockets or do anything. “ She said she did not and that she did not know them. Both prisoners were searched. Nothing was found on Langham and Rogers had a purse containing 8 or 9 shillings in half crowns. Statements of the accused: George Rogers – “I am innocent” Frederick Langham – “as so am I”
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser