QSR1869/1/5/17a,18a

Depositions of Deborah Halsey, wife of John Halsey, grocer of Maulden. Maria Butler, wife of Jonathan Butler, keeper of a store shop in Ampthill. Henry Bailey, police constable stationed at Clophill. William Hillyard, police sergeant stationed at Ampthill. In the case of David Odell and Samuel Taylor accused of stealing a copper frying pan, a pewter pot, 2 pairs of worsted stockings, a flannel shirt and other articles.

21 December 1868

From: 1868 To: 1869

Deborah Halsey: she was the wife of John Halsey and knew both of the prisoners. On Monday 7 December when she went downstairs in the morning, she missed several articles from her washhouse near the house. Among the items was a pewter pint pot, a copper frying pan a, a flannel shirt and 2 pairs of worsted stockings. She informed PC Bailey the following day and on 9 December Bailey brought her a frying pan which she knew to be one of the articles she had missed. On 19 December the constable showed her a pair of stockings which she knew to be her husbands; she had mended the heels herself. The next day the Sergeant showed her a flannel shirt which she knew to be her husbands. She knew it as it was her own work. She valued all the articles at 10 shillings. Maria Butler: on 7 December the prisoner, Odell came to their shop. She bought a quantity of copper articles from him, all of which were bent up together. She bought them by weight. The same day she gave the copper up the PC Bailey. PC Henry Bailey: on 7 December he went to the shop of Mrs Butler to make enquires of some stolen property. Mrs Butler gave him the copper and bent up among it was a frying pan. He had to hammer it out to see what it was. The following day he received information from Mrs Halsey that her washhouse had been broken into and a frying pan was among the articles stolen. He showed Mrs Halsey the frying pan and she identified it. On 19 December he apprehended the prisoner, Odell, and charged him with stealing the frying pan and other articles from Mrs Halsey. The prisoner said that all they had from Halsey was a frying pan and an old pair of copper scales and he asked if Bailey wasn’t going to take Taylor into custody too as he had been with him. The prisoner, Taylor, stood by and heard what Odell said but made no reply. He took Odell to the police station and searched him. Odell had on his legs worsted stockings. Mrs Halsey confirmed the stockings were the property of her husband. On 20 December, he went with Sergeant Hillyard and took Taylor into custody. They found a flannel shirt on him. Mrs Halsey identified it. Taylor was taken to the police station and placed along with Odell in the yard. Taylor said he had had not gone inside and had stood outside the washhouse and that Odell had passed the things to him. Odell said that both had gone in together. Sergeant William Hillyard: on Sunday 20 December he was present when Taylor was taken into custody. He searched taylor and founf the flannel shirt. Taylor said he had bought the shirt from Luton the day before. Mrs Halsey identified the shirt. Taylor was taken to the police station and he and Odell were placed together in the yard. Taylor said in the presence of Odell that he had not gone into the wash house but had stood outside while Odell went in and got the things out of the window. Odell said Taylor did go in the washhouse. Taylor also said they had not gone through town but round the Holly Walk into Bedford Road. Taylor said he stood by the National School whilst Odell went to Butlers to sell the articles. Taylor said that Odell did not tell him what he made from them. Statements of the accused: Odell – did not wish to say anything. Taylor – did not wish to say anything.

item

Odell, David,
Taylor, Samuel,
Halsey, Deborah,
Halsey, John,
Butler, Maria,
Butler, Jonathan,
Bailey, Henry,
Hillyard, William

MAULDEN, stealing, household goods, stockings, grocer, shopkeeper, CLOPHILL, AMPTHILL, Ampthill Holly Walk