QSR1849/1/5/25

Deposition of James Tate, farmer, Mary Ann Layton and William Breakwell, police constable of Northill. In the case of James Richardson, labourer of Northill accused of stealing one He lamb-hog

26 December 1848

From: 1848 To: 1849

James Tate: kept 20 he-lambs in one of his fields. On 24 December, he found one of the sheep to by missing but later can across the carcass of the sheep. He also found a knife and the skin. William Breakwell, police constable: went to the prisoners home where he found part of a bone. The break in the bone matched with a bone left at the scene. The accused claim Miss Layton had bought the meat. Mary Ann Layston: looks after the house of the accused. She witnessed the wife of James Richardson take a piece of meat from his jacket pocket and make meat dumplings. Later the police constable came to the house and found the shin bone in the pot used by his wife when making the dumplings. She heard the accused state that she had bought the meat from Mr Berry. Layton originally stated that was true but later told the police constable this was a lie. James Richardson: declined to comment in his defence.

item

Richardson, James,
Breakwell, William,
Tate, James,
Layton, Mary

NORTHILL, BIGGLESWADE, Northill Thorncote Road, stealing, lamb