Reference
QSR1822/610-611
Title
Letter from Rev. Edward Orlebar Smith, Aspley Guise. Relating to the theft of Daniel Sinfield's watch by William Pilgrim.
Date free text
1822
Production date
From: 1822 To: 1822
Scope and Content
J Milgate, constable of Aspley will bring with the letter William Pilgrim of Aspley Guise, suspected of stealing a watch from Daniel Sinfield. Pilgrim does not attempt any defence and considering him rather weak Smith did not encourage a confession. The reason he is sending the letter is the conduct of the owner of the watch, D. Sinfield, whom he has bound over in £40 to prosecute. He asks that an indictment should be made out against Sinfield 'for compounding felony and for high contempt by making the warrants he received from me a means to frighten Pilgrim into a compromise of the matter and then giving up the said warrants and causing them to be destroyed - this having been done after a caution from me that if he had the warrants he must go thro' with the business and also I understood from his own confession, after he had shown the warrants to Mr Day of Wootton and been told by him of the absolute necessity of taking them to the constable of Aspley as directed abiding by the law of the land under penalty of fine and imprisonment.
In a case so notorious I consider myself bound to come forward to punish the offender.' The watch was stolen during Dancing at the Greyhound Inn on New Year's day. 'Sinfield once when dancing a reel had fallen back into Pilgrim's arms ... but could not swear to [it] from his own recollection being somewhat intoxicated ...' Later in the Swan Inn he received back his watch and 30s for "his trouble at my house" (tho' I charged nothing for the warrants as I never do) ... I trust you will think with me that it would be highly improper to pass over such a transaction - Sinfield has evidently made use of warrants to accomplish his own purposes and then caused them to be destroyed ...'
'It is not my wish to punish Sinfield if it can be avoided with any further severity than may suffice to make him remember his improper conduct in this affair on account of his family but if I were to let him go quite unpunished the example might have a bad effect ...'
'P.S. If upon examination of the case you think the probable punishment would be too severe upon an indictment found against him - could we let him stay in prison till the Sessions and then allow of his dismissal with reprimanding ...'
'P.P.S. Pilgrim is a loose character and has been in gaol once or twice for poaching and is also been used from a boy to pilfering. '
'P.P.P.s. I have the watch in my possession.
Reference
Level of description
item