QSR1869/4/5/6

Depositions of the Honorable and Reverend Alan Brodrick, clerk of the parish of Stagsden. Charles Hicks, labourer of Stagsden. George Mardlin, police constable of Turvey. In the case of Thomas Moore accused of stealing a coat.

28 August 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

The Honourable and Reverend Alan Brodrick: he left his coat in the study downstairs in the Vicarage at Stagsden about 9.45am on 25 August. When he returned home about 8.40pm on the same day he found it gone. The next morning he enquired in the parish as to whether any person had been offering a coat for sale and in consequence of what he was told, he went to the house of Charles White in Stagsden. He gave notice to the police constable at Turvey. He found his coat in the house of William White at Stagsden. He handed it to PC Mardlin. The value of the coat was 2 shillings. Charles Hicks: he was a labourer in Stagsden. The accused offered the coat to him for sale for half a crown but then said he might have it for 2 shillings. He bought it for 2 shillings. PC George Mardlin: from information received he went in pursuit of the accused and found him at the Duke of York public house. He told him he suspected him of stealing a coat at Stagsden. The prisoner said at first that he knew nothing about it. He took the prisoner into custody and took him to the police station and there searched him. The prisoner said that he did take the coat and he was aware of it from Lord Myddleton’s brother. The prisoner said he had gone to the front of the house and seeing as no one was there he had looked in several rooms to see if he could find a cash box. The prisoner said he could not find it and saw the coat as he was coming out and took it and sold it to a man in Barley Field for 2 shillings. Statement of the accused: he was 25 years a sailor and had been taken ill from inflammation of his right lung. While he could raise funds for the doctors expensed he would not go to the workhouse. He went inot White Chapel workhouse. He was told by the doctor not to go to sea until his lung was strong again. When he got to Dunstable he was advised to make his case known to Mr Smyth. He went to him and Smyth said that could not assist him and gave him in charge.

item

Moore, Thomas,
Brodrick, Alan,
Hicks, Charles,
Mardlin, George,
Smyth

STAGSDEN, TURVEY, stealing, coat, Clerk in Holy Orders, sailor, illness