QSR1869/1/5/21-22

Depositions of Richard Mott, gardener of Newport Pagnell. Charles Young, bricklayer of Cranfield. John Harper, labourer of Cranfield. Mary Hewlett, wife of James, innkeeper of Cranfield. James Hewlett, corporal in the 3rd battalion 60th rifles. George Spencer, police constable stationed at Cranfield. James Bates, superintendent of police for the Ampthill division. In the case of John Roberts and James Read, both shoemakers of Cranfield, accused of stealing a pocket book and purse from the person of Richard Mott.

24 December 1868

From: 1868 To: 1869

Richard Mott: on the evening of 21 December he was at the Cross Keys public house at Cranfield. He did not know either of the prisoners. There were 1 or 2 more in the tap room besides the prisoners. He had a pocket book with him containing some papers. It was the one produced. He did not give the pocket book to anyone and he had a black purse in his pocket as well. The ruse contained £2 15s 0d. He missed the purse. Mrs Hewlett, the landlady spoke to him about his money. The following evening he went to the prisoner, Roberts, house at Cranfield . That was all the remembered. Charles Young: he was a bricklayer’s labourer at Cranfield. He knew both the prisoners and they both lived in Cranfield and were shoemakers. He knew Richard Moth. On the evening of Monday 21 December he was at the Cross Keys in Cranfield. He saw Mott, the prisoners, John Harper and 2 others. It was between 10pm and 11pm. About 11.30pm he saw Roberts put his hand in Mott’s pocket. He saw Roberts take a purse from the pocked and walk straight out of the house. Roberts returned about 5 minutes later. He left house about midnight and when he returned the prisoners had gone. He came back to ask the landlady if all thing were right and if Mott’s money was all right. Mott was then in the house and the landlady searched his pocket. Mott was in liquor. In consequence of the information he gave to Mrs Hewlett, the police constable was sent for. He believed Mott remained in the house all night and Mott was there when he left at 3am. John Harper: on the night of Monday 28 December he was at the Cross Key in Cranfield and saw the prisoners there and so was Mott. He knew the prisoners well. About 11.30pm the same evening he saw Roberts put his hand in Mott’s coat pocket and take something. Mott appeared to be in liquor. Roberts then went outside the tap room and came back after about 5 minutes. When he first went to the Cross Keys the prisoners were drinking together. He left before midnight and Mott was still there. The 2 prisoners had left. Both prisoners had beer but neither was drunk nor quite sober. Mary Hewlett: wife of James and they kept the Cross Keys at Cranfield. She knew both the prisoners and Mott well. They were all in the house on 21 December. Harper and Young were also in the house. The prisoners and Mott came into the house about 10.05pm and had some gin and peppermint together. Mott paid with a sovereign. She gave him change and she put it in his purse. She put the purse in his hand and saw him put the purse in the breast pocket of his coat. Both prisoners saw what she did and she said out loud what money he had. Afterwards, in consequence of what was said to her by Young, she checked Mott’s pocket. His purse had gone. Mott was in liquor. The police were sent for and PC Spencer came. Both prisoners had left but Mott remained all night. James Hewlett: his father kept the Cross Keys at Cranfield and he was a rifleman, a corporal, in the 3rd battalion 60th Riffles. He knew the prisoners. On 21 December he saw them in the tap room and Mott was also there. After the house was cleared, about midnight, Young returned and asked if all was correct and in consequence of what he said it was ascertained Mott had lost his purse. He went for PC Spencer and went with him in search of the prisoners. They went to Robert’s house but he was not home. He afterwards saw Roberts near his house and went with him to the witness Harper’s house where he found the police constable. After that he saw both prisoners in the custody of the police constable. PC George Spencer: on the evening of 22 December about 12.45am he was sent for to the Cross Keys at Cranfield. He found Richard Mott there and he appeared to be with liquor. Young was there and in consequence of what the landlady said he went in search of the prisoner. He afterwards met the prisoner read and then saw Roberts. He took the prisoners and James Hewlett to the Robert’s house and searched him but found nothing. He went with Roberts to the Cross Keys and he told him what had happened as they went along. Roberts said he knew where Mott’s pocket book was and he took him to a fence adjoining the Cross Keys and there found the pocket book containing papers. They went to the Cross Keys and Roberts called him to one side. Roberts said that if he pledged to nothing say anything about it he would say where the money was. He told Roberts he would do nothing of the sort and Roberts said to him “Let us go out at the back door”. They did so and went to Roberts house where they saw Read. Roberts told Read to fetch the money but Read told Roberts to fetch it himself. He went with both prisoners to the front of Read’s house where he stooped and picked up 2 shillings from the ground. More money was picked up and given to him. Both prisoners went with him to the Cross Keys and he charged them both with stealing from the person. The prisoners said nothing and were taken into custody and conveyed to Ampthill Station. Superintendent James Bates: on 22 December he found both prisoners in custody at the police station. He told them both the charge. Roberts replied he had picked up the pocket book in the Cross Keys and taken the money, £2 5s 0d, out of the purse and given it to James Read as they were going home. Read said Roberts had given him £2 which he had out in his pocket and they arranged to divide it. They had been drunk and went on to the Swan and then home. Statement of the accused: Read – he knew John Roberts told him to pick the money up. He asked Roberts how much there was and was told £2 5s 0d. he told Roberts to give hi £2 and he put it in his pocket with some more silver. Roberts – nothing to say.

item

Mott, Richard,
Young, Charles,
Harper, John,
Hewlett, Mary,
Hewlett, James,
Spencer, George,
Bates, James,
Roberts, John,
Read, James

Newport Pagnell, CRANFIELD, shoemaker, gardener, bricklayer, corporal, pickpocket, Cranfield Cross Keys, drunkenness