QSR1838/1/5/13

Depositions of John Mortimer, farmer of Heath & Reach. Joseph Hill, painter of Leighton Buzzard. William Reddall, gunsmith of Eversholt. In the case of William Woodland accused of stealing a gun.

2 December 1837

From: 1837 To: 1838

John Mortimer: a few weeks previous at Potsgrove Feast he went into a booth at Sheep Lane. Some of his friends were there. He had a gun with him which he set down in the corner of the booth. He sat down with his friends and had a pipe. The barrel of the gun was old fashioned with a large bore and identifiable features. William Woodland was in the booth with him and was drinking there. He went out of the booth and when he went back he saw his gun safe. There was a row with Woodland and his brother about a jacket and they went out. Soon afterwards he missed his gun. Woodland returned about half an hour later and was swearing about his jacket. He valued his gun at £5. He did not ask Woodland to go with him to find his gun. Joseph Hill: the previous Tuesday hew as at Aspley Guise and was walking near the village when he saw William Woodland coming down the field with a gun in his hand. He observed to Woodland that he had a nice gun and he asked him if it was his. Woodland said he had borrowed it. Woodland said he had 2 guns which were being repaired and the gun had lent it him. He understood that to mean Reddall the gunsmith at Froxfield in Eversholt parish. He took the gun from Woodland, put it to his shoulder and observed that it was a good gun with a large bore. He had Mortimers gun in his hand many times and he believed the gun to be Mortimer’s. He told a relation of Mortimer’s that he thought his gun was in the hands of Woodland. William Reddall: he knew William Woodland and had never repaired a gun for him, nor had he lent him a gun. William Woodland: he was in the booth at Potsgrove Feast. He danced with a girl and they went out to have some salmon at a neighbours. He returned to the booth and met Mortimer who was swearing about having lost his gun. He had left his frock with a man and asked for it back but the man did not know where it was. He stopped dancing and Mortimer and his friends came up and asked if he had lost a jacket. He said he had lost his and his brothers. Mortimer asked if he would go with him to find the men who had taken both the jackets and the gun. Mortimer, his friend and himself went together to near Sand House. They then returned to the booth and stopped for an hour or two. The following morning he met Mortimer at Sheep Lane and asked if he had found his gun.

item

Woodland, William,
Mortimer, John,
Hill, Joseph,
Reddall, William

EVERSHOLT, ASPLEY GUISE, HEATH & REACH, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, POTSGROVE, stealing, guns, feasts