Reference
QSR1824/350-351
Title
Examinations and depositions. regarding James Hewlet of Felmersham, labourer, prosecuted for theft of goods from a house late in the occupation of Robert Woodham at Elstow [property of William Dawson].
Date free text
1824
Production date
From: 1824 To: 1824
Scope and Content
Examination of Martha Hewlet of Felmersham, spinster. Found articles of furniture in her brother’s house, with whom she was living. She recognised the furniture as some which had been in Woodham’s house at Elstow. Woodham married her sister. She heard that Woodham was leaving and her brother could take what goods he pleased.
Examination of James Pain of Felmersham, labourer. Agreed to bring the goods from Woodham’s house at Elstow to Felmersham for three shillings. They arrived and unlocked the door at Elstow between midnight and 1 a.m. he came back through Bedford and left the furniture at Hewlet’s house.
Examination of John Hopkins Warden, Bedford, constable, he went with Mr Dawson of Bedford to the house of James Hewlet to search for goods stolen from Elstow. Hewlet and his brothers and sisters brought into the yard a feather bed, bolster, quilt, two pillows, a blanket, a pair of tongs, poker pair of bellows and two candlesticks. Hewlet said that these were all the goods and ‘I brought the feather bed on my back from Elstow.’ Witness went again to the house and demanded the rest of the goods. Hewlet’s sister placed the various articles separate as he called them out from a list supplied by Mr Dawson. Four iron candlesticks, snuffers and a stand, a pair of blankets, a pair of sheets and a quilt. When the things were laid out Hewlet’s wife came upstairs and threw them on to the bed, telling him that if he could not swear to them he should not have them. Hewlet also came in and said unless he could swear to them he should not have them and ‘if he had known as much yesterday he should not have had the other goods.’ He left the things and took Hewlet into custody.
Reference
Level of description
item