Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1867/3/5/7
  • Title
    Depositions of William Morris, labourer of Little Brickhill. Elizabeth Shouler, wife of Amram Shouler, grocer of Sheep Lane, Potsgrove. Elizabeth Green, wife of Thomas, baker of Sheep Lane, Potsgrove. Sarah Webb, wife of William, shopkeeper of Heath and Reach. Joseph Venemore, parish constable of Heath & Reach. John Horne, police constable stationed at Heath & Reach. Mary Ann Clough, wife of William Clough, superintendent of police for the division of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Ann Hannell, wife of Richard of Heath & Reach, accused of stealing a purse containing 8 shillings from the person.
  • Date free text
    14 May 1867
  • Production date
    From: 1867 To: 1867
  • Scope and Content
    William Morris: on the night of Saturday 11 May he had been in the company of the prisoner. They had been drinking together at the Little Bell in Woburn Sands. They left the house together and walked along the road towards Sheep Lane where they sat down together by the road side. They sat for about 10 minutes and he heard someone pass by and the prisoner went after them. As soon as she had gone he missed his purse. There were 4 two-shilling pieces and some other silver but he could not say what amount. The prisoner had sat on the same side as his purse. His purse had been safe when they sat down. He had felt it. It was not 5 minutes after that that he missed his purse. He did not overtake her but afterwards went to her house at Heath and Reach but did not see her. He informed the police of his loss and went with the police constable to the prisoner’s house. The prisoner came to the door and he charged her with stealing his purse. She said that if he had come by himself she would have given him his money and that she would have given him a sovereign to make it up. He had never upset her in his life. Elizabeth Shouler: wife of Amram, a grocer at Sheep Lane. She knew the prisoner and on Saturday night at 10.50pm the prisoner came to her house and bought some grocery goods to the value of 2s 2d ½ and the prisoner gave a 2 shilling piece and a sixpence. Elizabeth Green: she was the wife of Thomas Green, a baker in Sheep Lane. She knew the prisoner. On Saturday night about 11pm the prisoner came to the shop and bought good to the value of 8d. The prisoner gave her a 2 shilling bit and she gave her 1s in silver and 4d. Sarah Webb: she was the wife of William Webb at Heath and Reach. She kept a small shop. On Saturday night the prisoner’s son came to the shop about 11pm and bought goods to the value of 1s 1d ½ and he gave her 6d in silver, a 3d bit and the rest in half pennies. She had seen the prisoner a few minutes before. Joseph Venemore: he was the parish constable of Heath & Reach. The prosecutor called him up about 1am on the Sunday and he went with him to the prisoner’s house. He saw her in the custody of PC Horne. She was left in the house in his charge. The prosecutor was there and the prisoner said "Pray [?] settle it. I’ll give you your money back and half a sovereign if you allow one day to get it in and I’ll go round to my friends and beg it. You give the policeman half a crown and you can settle it if you like". She was afterwards taken away in custody. The prosecutor was quite sober. PC John Horne: on the night of 11 May, about midnight, the prosecutor came to him and in consequence of what he said he went to the prisoner’s house. It was an hour before the got the prisoner to open the door. The prosecutor charged her with taking 9 shillings out of his pocket and he said there were 4 two-shilling pieces and other which he could not remember. The prisoner said she had not done it. He told her he must take her into custody and she said that she’d give a sovereign before she went to prison if he’d give her time and she’d cut her throat before being locked up for the loss of that money. He sent for the parish constable, left the prisoner in his charge and sent for a companion. The prisoner was brought to the station at Leighton Buzzard and he heard her say, before she was searched, that she had no money or anything about her or the house. He afterwards searched her house and found a shilling in silver and a half penny wrapped in a piece of rag inside the bed. Mary Ann Clough: wife of Superintendent Clough of Leighton Buzzard. Between 2am and 3am on the morning of Sunday 12 May the prisoner was brought to the station house. She searched her and found 3 sixpences in silver and a few sweets. She found nothing else. Before being searched the prisoner said she had nothing. Statement of the accused: the prisoner had upset her and dragged her into the field. He had said he would give her something. She was not guilty.
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