QSR1868/4/5/9

Depositions of George Lineham, blacksmith of Marson Moretaine. Samuel Woodin, labourer of Marston Moretaine. John Burridge, blacksmith of Marston Moretaine. James Watts, police constable stationed at Houghton Conquest. In the case of William Hudson accused stealing 2 sickles.

8 October 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

George Lineham: on 14 July Samuel Woodin and James Valentine were at his shop looking at sickles. They each selected one and left them in the shop saying they would call another day. They did not pay for them. They were hung on a rafter in the shop next to the well. The prisoner came to the shop the same day. On the morning of 15 July he was called up at 1.20am. 2 boards were pulled off the shop window and 2 sickles were gone. Samuel Woodin: he recalled that on 14 July he went to Lineham’s shop at Marston Moretaine with a man by the name of Valentine. They had gone to buy sickles and selected one each to be called for another day. He noticed the sickle he selected had a piece of chipped out of the handle. The handle produced was a good deal like the one he selected. He noticed that the sickle was not put straight into the handle. It came out a little on one side. He believed the handle produced was the handle of the one he selected. He noticed a “4” on the handle. The handle produced had “4” on it. John Burridge: he recollected that on the morning of 15 July the prisoner came to his shop to have a sickle altered. He wanted the handle taken off the end and a screw put on the sickle. The handle produced was the one he took off. He knew it by the piece chipped off. He had no other handle in the shop. It was quite a new sickle and a right handed one. He made it into a left handed sickle. He afterwards gave the handle to PC James Watts. The prisoner had an iron screw fixed one to his left arm. PC James Watts: he received the handle from Mr Burridge on 15 July. Subsequently he made enquiries upon the prisoner who lived at Cranfield. The prisoner had been missing since. Statement of the accused: he knew nothing of the concern.

item

Lineham, George,
Hudson, William,
Woodin, Samuel,
Burridge, John,
Watts, James,
Valentine, James

MARSTON MORETAINE, HOUGHTON CONQUEST, CRANFIELD, blacksmith, stealing, agricultural implements, disability