1856: Boat Stolen from Swindon

From the Reading Mercury, 26th April 1856

John Dolman, late of Swindon, was charged with stealing a canal boat, and £11, the property of the Wilts and Berks Canal Company.

Henry Lyle Dunsford said: I am resident agent to the Wilts and Berks canal company; the prisoner was a boatman in the company's employ; on the 7th February last he was sent to the Moira Collieries after a load of coal to be delivered at Wantage, such a journey would have taken three weeks to accomplish. A month elapsed and the prisoner didn't return with the boat. I then ascertained that the prisoner had not been there as ordered.

I heard nothing of the prisoner until the 19th of March; he then came to Swindon and removed his family, and I procured a warrant for his apprehension. The boat is called “Alma”, painted black and yellow.

Henry Hanies said: I am Superintendent of police at Swindon, I received a warrant from Mr. Dunsford to apprehend the prisoner, and instituted enquiries respecting him; on Friday the 11th instant, I went to Moor-end, near Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire. About 7 o'clock in the evening, I was at a lock on the Grand Junction Canal there. He (prisoner) came up with two boats drawn by one horse, one of the boats had the name “Alma” on it; and one was painted black and yellow; they were laden with iron bars from Wolverhampton, and consigned to London. I have since taken possession of the boat.

The prisoner was committed for trial.