QSR1838/1/5/24

Depositions of Thomas Roe, carrier of Turvey, Rhoda Smith, spinster of St Paul and Daniel Attack, retail beer seller of St Paul. In the case of David Smith, labourer of St Paul, accused with assaulting and robbing the said Thomas Roe.

29 December 1837

From: 1837 To: 1838

Depositions of Thomas Roe, carrier of Turvey, Rhoda Smith, spinster of St Paul and Daniel Attack, retail beer seller of St Paul. In the case of Daniel Smith, labourer of St Paul, accused with assaulting and robbing the said Thomas Roe. Thomas Roe: Carrier of Turvey. Between 5pm and 6pm on Wednesday the 27th December he was driving his cart on the road from Bedford to Turvey. He had no one with him and about a mile from Bedford the prisoner, whom he has known for above 50 years, came up to him and said 3 or 4 times over, “Mr. Roe, Mr. Roe, I want to ride to Stagsden”. The prisoner got into his cart without a word and immediately put his right arm around the back of his neck and his hand over his mouth. The prisoner knocked out one of his teeth and scratched his face. The prisoner then ransacked his pockets and took a canvas purse, a half sovereign, about 20 shillings in silver and 2 garden padlock keys. His other breeches pockets was stripped of his pocket knife, a box of pills, a pair of spectacles and a spectacles case, a brass door knob and 2 screws. The prisoner then dragged him out of his cart and went off towards Bedford. It was very dark but he could see that the prisoner was a tall man. He was quite sober. He saw the prisoner in the High Street, Bedford, on the morning of the 28th December. After the robbery he went towards Turvey and to Mr. John Higgins, Justice of the county, to make a formal statement. He could identify the prisoner by his voice as he had known him a long time. Rhoda Smith: Daughter of the prisoner., spinster of St Paul, Bedford. She lives with her father. On Wednesday 27th December her father went out about the middle of the day, before 1pm, and returned about 2pm. Her father then went to bed and lay until 4pm when he got up and had some tea. After tea her father returned to bed and lay until 7pm. He got up for a while and returned to bed about 10pm. She is quite sure that her father was not out of the house after 2pm that day. Daniel Attack: Retail beer seller of St Paul, Bedford. He knew the prisoner and saw him several times in the course of Wednesday 27th December. The prisoner came to his House at different times throughout the day, which was more than usual. He does not think that the prisoner remained in his House for more than 10 minutes at a time, except for when it was just getting dark, when he remained for 20-30 minutes. He did not see the prisoner again until between 6pm and 7pm. The prisoner then remained in the House for about an hour. He does not recollect changing any money for the prisoner or seeing any of the prisoner’s money, except for when he paid. David Smith; He went to Mr. Attack’s Beer House in the High Street, Bedford, between 3pm and 4pm on Wednesday 27th December. He remained in the House until 9pm or 10pm that same night. He was never out of the House except to go into the back yard to relieve himself. Mr. Attach was in the House all night. He went home about 10pm and was in bed before 11pm.

item

Roe, Thomas,
Smith, Rhoda,
Attack, Daniel,
Smith, David

TURVEY, BEDFORD, carriers, labourers, spinsters, public houses, beer retailers, assault, stealing, money, purse, knife, spectacles