QSR1877/1/5/1

Depositions and examination - James Spacey of Toddington, carrier, charged with stealing 10 1/2 lbs of pork value 7s from Ezra Crawley and Joseph Crawley at Toddington on 3 June 1876

20 October 1876

From: 1876 To: 1877

Ezra Crawley of Toddington, butcher – last June Spacey was employed by him to convey meat to Luton Market. On the 3rd day Spacey carried about 40 stone of meat to Luton and brought some back. He missed some and the next day went to Spacey’s with his brother Joseph. His brother asked Spacey to fetch the plate of pork. Spacey brought it. His brother told Spacey to fetch the other piece and he did so. There was about 10 ½ lbs of pork. He took the pork outside Spacey’s house. Spacey and his wife came to the door. Spacey offered to give him anything to settle the case. He refused. Spacey said he could have his horse and cart and go to Luton himself. Spacey’s wife followed them to his brother’s house. He thought then he would not take proceedings. The pork was salted when handed back to him – his meat on the cart was fresh. He did not miss it until the following morning. He had a conversation with Spacey about a summons Spacey had taken out against his brother. He then threatened Spacey with these proceedings. Spacey did not say his wife had unloaded the cart. He [Ezra Crawley] unloaded the cart in the dark. He had a candle. His was tied up in a cloth. Spacey owned to him that he has put the pork in a nosebag. Joseph Crawley of Toddington, butcher – he is in partnership with his brother Ezra as a butcher. Spacey used to take their meat to Luton Market. On 4 June he went to Spacey’s house. Spacey was not at home. He saw 2 pieces of pork lying on the table. From what Spacey’s wife said he went to his brother’s. He had seen the same pieces of pork on his brother’s stall at Luton. He and his brother then returned to Spacey’s house. Spacey was at home. He asked Spacey to fetch the blade bone of pork back. Spacey fetched it and also the other piece when asked. He then asked Spacey for his beef, which Spacey denied having. Spacey said “pray say nothing I’ll give anything you like. He said “Ain’t you a thief”. Space said “yes I are”. His brother put the meat in his handkerchief and brought it away. [Cross-examined] Spacey said nothing about his horse and cart then but did about ½ hour afterwards. Spacey’s wife was present at their interview. He can’t say whether there was any straw in the cart with the meat. He had some meat in the cart himself. His was unloaded first. He helped to unload. They had a candle. [2nd cross-examination] He went to Spacey’s house in the first instance because he had lost some beef. He did not know then that his brother had lost anything. Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Crawley – Spacey’s wife came to her on 4 June and made a statement to her. James Spacey – he went home on the Saturday night between 1 and 2am and shut his horse out. His “missus” always takes the things out of the cart while he sees to the horse. He did not know anything about the pork until the next morning at about 10am when he came home from taking the horse in the field. His wife said Joseph Crawley had been there about a piece of beef he had lost. She said there was no beef in the cart but there was a bit of pork. He said he knew nothing about Crawley’s beef and had never seen any. His wife asked where he got the pork. He asked to see it. When he saw it he said it was not his and they could have it. Joseph and Ezra Crawley came in and said they had come for their meat. He told them they could have it and that it was what was left in the cart. He gave it to them. He had no thought of stealing the pork and knew nothing of it until the morning.

item

Spacey, James,
Crawley, Ezra,
Crawley, Joseph,
Crawley, Elizabeth

TODDINGTON, stealing, pork, carriers, carts, butchers