QSR1852/3/5/21

Depositions of Nathaniel Dear, sawyer of Clifton, and Reuben Pepper, police constable of Shefford. In the case of John Hatton, accused of stealing a plummet.

7 June 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Nathaniel Dear: a sawyer of Clifton. About 6 or 7 months ago he has working for Lord Ongley and one evening left his tools on the premises in a shed. The next morning he missed a plummet bob, a square, 2 pairs of compasses and a several other things. He saw none of them again except the plummet bob, when presented to him by Constable Pepper. The prisoner used to work for Dear at Lord Ongley's and knew where he kept this tools but when he missed them, Hatton had been left his employ for some months. Reuben Pepper: on 7 June he went to John Hatton who was at work at Stamford and searched his basket and found the plummet bob. He asked him if it was his, and Hatton said it was. It had belonged to Nat Dear and when they parted he bought it away with him and left Dear one of his. Pepper took him into custody. He took him to Warden where Dear was at work. Hatton then said he had found he plummet bob lying at the side of the sand pit on Sunday morning.Statement of the accused: on Sunday morning he was going to Warden and passed the sand pit. He picked up the bob and put it in his pocket. His wife was with him and he said to her "this is Nat Dears's bob"

item

Bayles, James,
Dear, Nathaniel,
Pepper, Reuben,
Ongley, Lord

SHEFFORD, CLIFTON, stealing, sawyer, tools