QSR1838/1/5/23

Depositions of John Williamson, gentleman and surgeon of Sharnbrook. Samuel Norton, servant to John Williamson. Martha Gammons, wife of William, labourer of Thurleigh. In the case of Catherine Tinsley, late of Thurleigh, accused of stealing a tortoise shell box.

26 December 1837

From: 1837 To: 1838

Samuel Norton: he was servant to Mr Williamson. He recollected the prisoner being in his master’s surgery on the day in November when his master lost a box. He did not recollect what day it was nor when he had last seen the box in the surgery. He had often seen the box in his master’s possession. John Williamson: he was a surgeon residing in Sharnbrook. He had in his surgery a box made of tortoise shell and silver and it had the name J Peck engraved on the lid. He was sent to visit Mrs Gammons at Thurleigh, a patient, who had the day before sent the prisoner to the surgery to request he attend her. Before he went to Thurleigh he had occasion for some ointment contained in the tortoiseshell and silver box which he always kept in the surgery. He could not discover it. When he went to Thurleigh he understood from the patient, Martha Gammons, that she had seen a box like his in the possession of the prisoner. He went to the brother of the prisoner and requested to tell her if she returned the box he would not prosecute her. The box was not brought to him. He saw the prisoner and told her she had not brought the box and that he would prosecute if he discovered she had stolen it. The prisoner accompanied a woman by the name of Ann Norton who said she had brought back the box at the request of the prisoner. The prisoner was with Norton at the time. The box was mutilated and part of the tortoiseshell taken off. The prisoner said if she was not prosecuted she would not commit such an offence again. The value of the box was 10 shillings. Martha Gammons, wife of William Gammons of Thurleigh: last November she sent the prisoner to Mr Williamson requesting that he visit her. On the same day the prisoner returned to her and she saw in her possession a box, which the prisoner said she had found. She told the prisoner she did not think she had found it. The prisoner replied “You don’t think I stole it” and Gammons said “I won’t say so”. Statement of the accused - Cathetine Tinsley: nothing to say.

item

Tinsley, Catherine,
Williamson, John,
Norton, Samuel,
Gammons, Martha,
Gammons, William

SHARNBROOK, THURLEIGH, stealing, household goods, servant, surgeon