QSR1869/3/5/9

Depositions of William Griffin, labourer of Billington. George Cambers, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard. William Knight Clough, superintendent of police for the division of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of George Reeves accused of stealing a silver watch, a German silver guard and a purse containing a florin and six pence work of half pennies.

8 June 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

William Griffin: he knew the prisoner who lived at Leighton Buzzard. On 23 March he was in the company of the prisoner at Camden Town. They slept together there on that night and went to bed sober. He had a silver watch and German silver guard which he put on the shelf in the room. He also had a purse containing 2 shilligns in his pocket and between sixpence and a shilling of half pennies. On the Monday morning the prisoner got up before him and was gone from the room when he woke. He missed his watch and guard off the shelf. He also missed his purse and 2 shillings from his pocket and all the half pennies. He went to look for the prisoner but could not find him. He informed the police. He did not see the prisoner again until 26 May at Leighton. He asked the prisoner if he knew about his watch and the prisoner said he did not. Afterwards the prisoner said he knew something of it and said “I have got the watch in my pocket”. He went with the prisoner down a lane and the prisoner gave him the watch. The watch was his property and worth 40 shillings. The prisoner also gave him the key to the watch and said that he had put the guard down the privy hole. The prisoner did not give him this purse or money and said he knew nothing about them. He gave the prisoner into the custody of the police of Leighton. He had not been drunk on the Monday night and had not given the prisoner any money. He had asked the prisoner for his watch at the Market House in Leighton. PC George Cambers: on 26 May he apprehended the prisoner and told him the charge. On 27 May he took the prisoner before a magistrate at Eaton Bray. While they were going along the prisoner said “I suppose they won’t le me pay I shall be sure to have to go to gaol”. Superintendent William Knight Clough: on 26 May the prisoner was brought to the police station. He told the prisoner the charge against him and said there was only a watch but no chain. The prisoner said he had drop the chain down a privy. He saw the prisoner afterwards crying. He had the prisoner why and the prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had done and would plead guilty. Statement of the accused: he bought the watch from him [Griffin].

item

Reeves, George,
Clough, William Knight,
Griffin, William,
Cambers, George

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BILLINGTON, Camden, stealing, watches, purse