Accused of theft of a hammer (1867)

Post date: Mar 22, 2013 5:50:13 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph, 10th August 1867 reporting on Malling Petty Sessions of 5th August.

William Morgan, a farm labourer, charged with stealing a hammer, value 1s, the property of Mr John Beale Jude, farmer, of Wateringbury. Mr W. South Norton appeared for tho prisoner.

Police-constable Marsh deposed that on 13th July he and Police-constable Goodsell searched a house at Wateringbury, where the prisoner lodged, and Goodsell found the hammer produced lying on a chair. The hammer bore the initials "J B.J." (John Beale Jude). While they were speaking to the landlord of the house the prisoner came in, and said, " What are you doing with that hammer? That don't belong to you, it's mine. I found it about two years ago". He (witness) showed the hammer to Mr Jude, who identified it as lost about nine months ago. Mr Jude directed him to take the prisoner into custody.

By Mr. Norton—The hammer was not secreted in any way. Prisoner said he found it a landway, about two years ago. He did not know that Mr. Jude's a initials were upon it. William Davis deposed that was in the employ of Jude. In September, last year, he lost from the engine room a hammer similar to the one produced. He did not know whether there were any initials on the hammer. He could not identify the hammer produced as being the one lost. Mr William Jude, nephew to the prosecutor, identified the hammer produced as being one that belonged to his uncle. He did not know that it had been stolen.

Mr Norton called the bailiff to Mr Leney, who said the prisoner had worked for Mr Leney for the last fifteen years, and bore an irreproachable character.

The case was dismissed.