QSR1835/3/5/33-34

Depositions and examinations - William Chamberlain and William Langton of Holwell. Chamberlain charged with stealing one wagon tilt from William Crawley and Langton with receiving the wagon tilt knowing it to be stolen.

5 June 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

William Crawley of Holwell, yeoman – he is a farmer. That morning about 5am when he went to look round his farm he missed the tilt [canvas wagon cover] off one of the wagons in his wagon hovel. He had seen the tilt hooped on the wagon at 9pm the previous night. He made enquiries and at about 1pm Job Whittamore came running to his house and told him that he had seen a wagon tilt put into the Shefford wagon on the road between Shefford and Hitchin. He set off in pursuit of the wagon taking Batten the hitchin constable with him. They overtook the wagon about one mile from Hitchin on the London road and stopped it. Just at tat time Isaac Spencer, the other Hitchin constable came up. They searched the wagon and found the tilt in the fore part in the hay bag. He is quite certain it is the one he lost. He bought it new about a fortnight ago. He had his name and address marked on both sides in large red letters. The tilt is worth £4. When they came up to the wagon Chamberlain was walking by the side of the wagon with Langton. The tilt was stuffed into the hay bag and covered with some hay so that it could not be seen. Job Whittamore of Campton, labourer – about 12 o’clock that morning he was coming along the road leading from Shefford to Hitchin with Jarvis’ wagon of Shefford. Chamberlain was with the wagon also. About 5 miles from Hitchin Chamberlain ran on a little before the wagon and turned into a little spinney on the right hand side of the road. A little later he came out again with a large bundle which he later found to be a wagon tilt. Chamberlain came up to the wagon and David Garner (another of the prisoners now present) who was with the agon at that time helped him to put the tilt into the wagon. He saw them put it into the hay bag on the aft side of the wagon. Langton, who is wagoner to Jarvis’ wagon was also present and was walking by the side of the wagon with another man. He heard the man Langton was walking with ask what it was he was going to take up and Langton told him it was a bonnet box or a hat box. The wagon went on and he followed it. When he got to the Dirt House which is kept by Samuel Jarvis he heard Jarvis say that Mr Crawley had lost a wagon tilt. He told jarvis what he had seen and Jarvis sent him off immediately to Mr Crawley to inform him. Benjamin Batten of Hitchin (Herts), yeoman – he is one of the constables of the parish of Hitchin. He went with Mr Crawley to search Jarvis wagon about 2pm that afternoon. They overtook the wagon about a mile from Hitchin on the London road. When they got up to it he told Langton the waggoner he was going to search the wagon for Mr Crawley’s tilt. Langton said he did not know anything about the tilt and it was not in the wagon, but a little later Langton told him it was in the hay bag. He took the 3 prisoners into custody while Spencer and Mr Crawley searched the wagon. Isaac Spencer of Hitchin (Herts), yeoman – he is one of the constables of Hitchin. Last night about 9pm he was in the George public house at Ickleford which is about ½ mile from Mr Crawley’s. Chamberlain was also there drinking. He knows Chamberlain well as he was formerly the Bedford waggoner. That morning Mr Crawley’s son William came to him and told him of the robbery. He told him he suspected Chamberlain as he had seen him drinking at Ickleford. He went with William Crawley Junior along the Bedford road a little way towards Ickleford talking about the robbery. Just as they got out fo Hitchin they met Jarvis’ wagon. Chamberlain was lying at the tail fo the wagon. When Chamberlain saw them he drew himself into the wagon to conceal himself. Between 1 and 2pm that afternoon mr Crawley came to him and told him he ahd got some clue to the robbery and that he wished him to go to help search the wagon. They overtook the wagon. He and Mr Crawley searched it while batten took the prisoners into custody. They found the wagon tilt in the hay bag. William Chamberlain – he knows nothing about it. William Langton – he did not know it was stolen.

item

Chamberlain, William,
Langton, William,
Crawley, William,
Whittamore, Job,
Batten, Benjamin,
Spencer, Isaac,
Garner, David,
Jarvis, Samuel

HOLWELL, CAMPTON, Hitchin, stealing, receiving stolen goods, farmer, wagon, waggoner, constable