QSR1835/1/5/22

Depositions and examination – George Bliss charged with sending a threatening letter to William Pratt at Totternhoe

23 December 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

Naomi Giltrow of Billington, singlewoman – she lived with William Pratt of Totternhoe last September. She remembers finding a letter in her master’s garden on the Friday three weeks before Old Michaelmas. She gave the letter to her mistress. The letter now produced is the one she found. She knows the letter by the smallness of the writing and from it being torn at the bottom. This was done in opening the letter as it was very wet. She tried to read the letter but was not able, but she knows some of the letters in it. Frances Pratt, wife of William Pratt of Totternhoe, farmer – she remembers her servant Naomi Giltrow bringing her a letter she had picked up in the garden. It was on a Friday morning about 3 weeks before Old Michaelmas. The letter was open. She took it and put it by until her husband came home, then gave it to him. She believes the letter now produced to be the same, but not being a good scholar she cannot read the writing. William Pratt of Totternhoe, farmer – on Friday, the day of the last Luton Statute, his wife delivered to him a letter which Naomi had found in the garden. The letter was folded up. It was the same letter now produced. He read it over, except a word or two which he could not make out. He took the letter to Daniel Twidell junior and asked if he had any of George Bliss’s writing. Twidell had some but did not then produced any. After he showed the letter to several persons John Twidell came to his house. Twidell read the letter and took it away with him. As soon as he saw the letter he suspected it was George Bliss’s writing as he has seen it before and many of the letters appeared very like his writing. John Twidell of Totternhoe, farmer – in consequence of information he received from his father that William Pratt had received a threatening letter he went down to Mr Pratt’s house. He remembers it was on a Saturday a short time before Old Michaelmas. He read the letter and took it away. He kept it until after the fire at his brother Daniel’s which happened on Sunday 7 December. The letter now produced is the same he received from William Pratt. Benjamin Schofield, one of the officers of Marlborough Street Police – in consequence of an application made to the Chief Magistrate of Marlborough Street Police Office he went to Tottenhoe to make enquiries respecting a fire that had happened on the premises of Mr Daniel Twidell Junior. He went to Totternhoe on Sunday 14 December. In making his enquiries a threatening letter directed to William Pratt was delivered to him by Mr Cartwright. The letter he now produces is the same. On Sunday he called at George Bliss’s lodgings. Bliss was at home with his father, sister, and other family members. He asked if a young man named George Bligh or Bliss lived there. Bliss’s father pointed him out to him. He asked him to come outside with him as he wished to ask him questions about the fire. His father resisted his going but the son came out willingly. They had a good deal of conversation about the fire. Afterwards he asked if Bliss had received any letter from a young man that morning. Bliss said he had neither received nor written a letter. He asked to look in Bliss’s box and he was not satisfied. Bliss allowed him to do so after some hesitation. There was no writing there. He then asked Bliss if he had any writing paper or pens or ink. About that time Bliss asked him what he meant by his writing letters. He asked if Bliss could write. Bliss took down from a shelf a school copy book which his mother had previously pointed out as belonging to him. The book he now produced is the same. He opened the book and asked if a certain part contained his writing. Bliss said it did. He doubted this as he had in his possession a book containing some of Bliss’s writing. Bliss said that part was his sister’s. Immediately afterwards a paper dropped out of the book (now produced) which Bliss admitted was his handwriting. He returned to Bliss’s lodgings on Monday 15th accompanied by Mr Wroth. He found the copy book on the same shelf and they compared the paper of the book and letter. He then took the book away. From certain notches on the edge of the letter and the book he has no doubt that the paper was cut out of the copy book, which Bliss has admitted to be his. He also showed Bliss some writing at the end of a book of hymns which he also admits to be his writing. He believes the letter to be in the same hand. George Bliss – “I know nothing about the letter Mr Schofield shewed me. It is not my writing.”

item

Bliss, George,
Pratt, William,
Giltrow, Naomi,
Pratt, Frances,
Twidell, Daniel,
Twidell, John

TOTTERNHOE, BILLINGTON, LUTON, threatening behaviour, farmer, domestic servant, literacy, fairs, fires, arson, police officer