- ReferenceQSR1834/2/5/5,8
- TitleWilliam Tame, retailer of beer of Potsgrove. Eleanor Paxton, widow of Potsgrove. In the case of James Giltrow, John Handscombe and Ezra Cox accused of stealing money.
- Date free text21 March 1834
- Production dateFrom: 1834 To: 1834
- Scope and ContentWilliam Tame: he was a retailer of beer at Sheep Lane in Potsgrove. On the evening of 12 March, James Giltrow, John Handscombe and Ezra Cox, all of Sheep Lane, came to his house. They had 2 pints of beer which they did not pay for and before that 2 pints of beer that they did pay for. Giltrow knocked out the candles and as fast as Eleanor Paxton, his housekeeper, lit them he knocked them out again and then made water in the fire and threw tables and chairs about. He went to call for assistance and as he was going out of the door Cox tried to prevent him but he passed him and went out the back and bolted the door. He went to John Becket [?] for assistance but he would not come and he went back to find the housekeeper locked out. William Handscombe who was in the house opened the door and let them in. Paxton lit a candle and Giltrow knocked it out again. He went upstairs. He came down and went to the place the beer was by the staircase and tried to pass into the house by it. He found it held by some persons. He got out and went upstairs but they held the door so he could not get out. Mrs Paxton called out that the men were robbing the house. He had about 10 shillings worth of pennies and half pennies. The door was held so he could not get downstairs. The men then went away. Mrs Paxton brought him the bowl in which the money was kept and there was only about a shillings worth left. The only persons in the house when he went upstairs were Giltrow, John Handscombe and Cox. Eleanor Paxton: she was the housekeeper to the last witness. She recollected the evening of 12 March. Giltrow, John Handscombe and Cox were in the house and so was William Handscombe. About 9pm she refused to draw them any more beer. Giltrow knocked out the candles and put them out. They all made a great disturbance in the house. Her master went out for assistance and then Cox locked the door. Giltrow made water in the fire and acted violently towards her. She got away by going through the back door of the house. She went for assistance. She met her master in the yard. When she got back her master was still in the yard. They tried both doors but they were fastened inside. They heard the men talking and making a noise in the house. About 10 minutes later the back door was opened by William Handscombe. They went in and William Handscombe went away. She got a light as quick as she could but Giltrow knocked it out again. She lit it again and went upstairs where her master was calling for assistance. The stair door was fastened by someone and they were kept upstairs. She heard a sound of drawing beer. She afterwards found they had drawn some in a basin. She also heard a rattling of halfpence. She heard them rattle in a wooden cup in which they were kept. Soon she heard them go out and she called to John Handcombe “you thief you have taken all the money”. Handscombe ran away. They went downstairs and went to the cupboard where the money was kept. All the money was taken out of the cup except for a sixpence and about a shillings worth of halfpence. She had seen the cup with the money in it after the men had come into the house. There had been 2 half crowns, 2 shillings, 2 sixpences and about 10 shillings for pennies and half pennies. When they were first locked out Stephen Gilks was also in the house. She saw him go out of the back door before she went upstairs and before she heard the money rattle. Statement of the accused – James Giltrow: he was fuddled and didn’t know anything about it. Statement of the accused – Ezra Cox [?]: he did not see the money or see anyone else muddle with it. He was certain no person went into the room where the money was whilst he was in the house.
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