QSR1832/4/5/2

Depositions of Thomas Horne, carpenter of Toddington. Thomas Fletcher, labourer of Toddington. In the case of George Atthews accused of stealing 2 elm boards.

27 July 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

Thomas Horne: about 8am William Jeffery, the constable of Toddington informed him that the watchman had caught George Atthews in the act of stealing some boards from his timber yard. He went to the watchman, Thomas Fletcher, and saw there 2 timber boards which he took to the timber yard and matched with the stock they came from. One of the boards was his property and the boards were worth about 3s 0d each. They were elm. Thomas Fletcher: he was watchman of Toddington. He was on duty between 11pm and 12am he was near Mr Horne’s timber yard which was in the town about a mile from Mt Horne’s house. He heard a noise and kept watch. About 10 minutes later he saw a board past overt the fence of the timber yard into an adjoining field called Congar Hill Close. In a minute or 2 more another board came over and then George Atthews, a working carpenter of Toddington, came over the fence. He seized Atthews as he lighted on the ground from the fence and then saw it was George Atthews. He took Atthews and one of the boards to his house and left the board there, he took Atthews to William Jeffery, the constable and they put Atthews in the cage. He went and fetched the other board and took it to his house and kept them until Mr Horne came. He went with Horne and Jeffery to compare the boards with the stock. The boards were elm. Statement of the accused: he was passing Congar Hill Field and saw some boards lying. There was a footpath where he was. He did not touch the boards but was going to look at them but he stopped to make water first and just as he was going to do so Fletcher ran up to him puffing and blowing with his coat unbuttoned. Fletcher said that if he did not go with him he would make him and he went with Fletcher without Fletcher seizing him.

item

Atthews, George,
Horne, Thomas,
Fletcher, Thomas

TODDINGTON, stealing, elm, carpenter, Conger Hill