QSR1832/4/5/8-9

Depositions of George Burridge, labourer of Steppingley. Elizabeth Line, widow of Steppingley. Mary Line, wife of Thomas Line of Steppingley. In the case of John Hopkins and Thomas Rainbow accused of entering the dwelling house of Charles Burridge and stealing a silver watch, a steel watch chain and a brass watch key.

6 September 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

George Burridge: he was of full age and resided in the house of his father, Charles Burridge. He got up on the morning of Sunday 2 September and looked at his watch which was hanging over the mantel shelf but found it did not work. He went into the street and asked Joseph Cook, who was drawing water from the well, what the time was and he replied it was between 7am and 8am. He left the watch hanging over the mantle piece and shut the door. He was confident of this. He then went to Ampthill and was followed by his father who asked him if he had the watch. He told hid father he had left it in the house and his father said the watch had gone. He returned to Steppingley and found the prisoners and another man in the custody of the constable of Steppingley. The following morning he went with the prisoners and the other man to Mr Cardale’s, the magistrate of Millbrook. On the way Hopkins said that if he would settle it and pay him the expenses of the watch. He told Hopkins that he was willing if the magistrate was. The same offer was made to him that morning through Makeham the constable of Steppingley. The other prisoner did not hear the conversation. The watch was not yet found. Elizabeth Line: she was the sister to the wife of Charles Burridge. She saw George Burridge come out of the house on Sunday morning between 7am and 8am. She afterwards went to fetch her bellows, which she had lent them. During the time she was in the house the prisoners, Rainbow and Hopkins came in and asked for some bread and onion and said they were hungry. She told them it was not hers and they must go home. She called her sister, who was upstairs to ask where the bellows were and her sister answered her. She was stooping down to look for them and on rising up saw Hopkins put his hand above the shelf to the spot where she had seen a watch hanging. She was some minutes looking about the house for the bellows and the men did not directly follow her. When she saw Hopkins move his hand she said to Rainbow “what did he take” and Rainbow replied “nothing at all”. The prisoners went away in the direction of the church yard and it did not strike her to say anything to her sister or her husband but when she saw her sister she asked her if she had lost anything and told her who had been in the house. Her sister said “Oh dear me surely they have not got George’s watch”. Her sister went into the house and found the watch gone. Her sister husband got up and went to Ampthill to see George. She was confident no one else entered the house between George leaving and her seeing the men. Mary Lines: she was up between 7am and 8am on Sunday morning and saw the prisoner Hopkins come out of Burridge’s house. Statements of the accused: John Hopkins – he was not in the house but went by the door. Thomas Rainbow – he went against the door and asked for a piece of bread and onion.

item

Hopkins, John,
Rainbow, Thomas,
Burridge, Charles,
Burridge, George,
Line, Elizabeth,
Line, Mary,
Line, Thomas,
Cardale

STEPPINGLEY, AMPTHILL, MILLBROOK, breaking & entering, stealing, watches