QSR1850/4/5/18/a

Depositions John Cook, carrier of Shenley in Buckinghamshire, William Harris, currier of Leighton Buzzard, John Tompkins, yeoman of Little Brickhill, William Clough, police constable of Hockcliffe and James Cook, labourer of Little Brickhill. In the case of Benjamin Smith accused of stealing a piece of cashmere and a piece of jean lining.

21 August 1850

From: 1850 To: 1850

William Harries: his cousin, Richard Harries keeps a Drapery & Currier shop in Leighton. Mr Thomas Wells of Loughton placed at order with him to supply 3 yards of black cashmere and 6 yards of jean lining. Harries cut off the pieces and packed them up with an invoice. The parcel was rolled up and about 2 feet long. This was given to John Cook, the Loughton carrier, along with another parcel. to the same address. John Cook: 2 brown paper parcels were received from William Harries. He put the parcels together in his cart and set off for Leighton about 1 o'clock. He delivered to Shenley, Fenny Stratford and Stoke Hammond. He knew the long parcel was still in his cart. On delivering to Denbigh Hall, he left the cart under a railway bridge for about 20 minutes and again he left the cart when delivering to a farmhouse. On returning home he took the parcels into his house and missed the long parcel addressed to Mr. Wells. A little boy was left in charge of the cart on both occasions but he fell asleep. John Tompkins: he went to the Kings Arms Public House in Little Brickhill. The prisoner was there with a parcel, untied and in a handkerchief. The prisoner said that he had picked them up and would be glad to get rid of them, if he was given half a crown for his trouble. Smith said they had come from Mr Harries and contained a bill, which he had destroyed. The fabric was not rolled but folded, and in a handkerchief rather than brown paper. William Clough: he stopped the accused at Chalk Hill, near Dunstable on 21 August. Smith had a bundle with him, which Clough examined. He found the missing property and took Smith into custody. Smith claimed to have found it on the road, in the same state as it was handed over to the constable. James Cook: he was offered the goods by Benjamin Smith whilst in the Shoulder of Mutton public house on 20 August. Smith said he had found the cloth. Smith said it was from Mr Harries of Loughton and he had torn off the paper and wrapped it in his bundle.

item

Smith, Benjamin,
Cook, John,
Harris, William,
Tompkins, John,
Clough, William,
Cook, James

HOUGHTON REGIS, Dunstable Chalk Hill, Loughton, Shenley [Buckinghamshire], Stoke Hammond, Denbigh, Fenny Stratford, stealing, wool, cloth, carrier, parcels, currier