QSR1839/1/5/27-28

Examinations and depositions - Samuel Jones and Thomas Ball accused of robbery by Joseph Mead

1 December 1838

From: 1838 To: 1838

Joseph Mead of Edlesborough (Bucks), farmer - last Tuesday evening he was on a pony in Billington Lane at 10 past 5 returning from Leighton Market, when 4 men seized him and his horse, dragged him off his horse, tore his clothes open and picked his pockets. The took his purse containing a £5 Bank of England note, one sovereign, two or three half sovereigns, one half crown and he thinks two sixpences. Also a silver watch, a knife, three memorandum books and some bills and papers. They ran through Mr Woodman's barley field into Billington Mead. Two of the memorandum books were returned to him the next morning and the papers found about a mile from where he was robbed towards Stanbridge. It was dusk when he was robbed with a moon, and he believes the two men accused are two of the four. The tall man was then wearing a short dark jacket, and the shortest was dressed as now. All wore short dresses, 3 dark and 1 light. Joseph Brandom of Edlesborough, labourer - something past 4 o'clock he saw four men pass by his house towards Billington, three wearing dark dresses and one a light dress. They were swearing a great deal. The short man was wearing a light jacket and a glaz'd hat, and the tallest man a dark jacket. Thomas Turney of Eaton Bray, labourer - at about quarter past 5 he was on Billington Mead going home from work. He saw 4 men coming from Billington Lane, sometimes walking, sometimes running. Three had dark dresses. They were going towards Stanbridge. John Cripps of Edlesborough, victualler - he keeps the Red Lion Public House. Last Tuesday for men called there including the 2 accused. They had pints of ale and pretended to be waiting for a crockery cart. They left about half past three. Billington Lane is about 4 miles from his house. John Hales of Chalgrave, hostler - he is hostler at the Star Inn, Hockliffe, in the parish of Chalgrave. Last Tuesday night between 6 and half past 6 four men came to the Star, three wearing dark clothes and one light. The tallest of the accused went into the Star and ordered half a pint of beer, paying with half a crown. The other 3 men were outside, and one wore a glaz'd hat. Susan, wife of Samuel Meadows of Woburn, retailer of beer - last Tuesday between 7 and 8 four men came to her house for lodgings, including the two accused. Described their clothing. One of them gave her husband half a sovereign. They left about half past 6 next morning and said they were going to Newport. Robert Savage of Ampthill, constable - on Wednesday last about 10 o'clock he received information about the robber from Mr Mead's son with a description of the robbers. He went to Maulden to search a lodging house for trampers. Two men ran away out of a barn. He and Mr Mead's son chased them and arrested them. Samual Jones and Thomas Ball - both said "I am innocent".

item

Jones, Samuel,
Ball, Thomas,
Mead, Joseph,
Brandom, Joseph,
Turney, Thomas,
Cripps, John,
Hales, John,
Meadows, Susan,
Meadows, Samuel,
Savage, Robert

Edlesborough, BILLINGTON, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, STANBRIDGE, EATON BRAY, HOCKLIFFE, CHALGRAVE, WOBURN, AMPTHILL, MAULDEN, , Edlesborough Red Lion, robbery, money, farmer, victualler, hostler, retailer of beer, lodging houses