QSR1841/1/5/23/a

Depositions - John Smith charged with stealing a horse

12 December 1840

From: 1840 To: 1841

William Stimson of Marston Moretaine, yeoman - on the morning of Tuesday 8 December he was called up by his man Esau Denton who said his chestnut mare was stolen. He got up, went to the stable and found the horse missing. William Stimson junior of Marston Moretaine, son of William Stimson - he was alarmed by Esau Denton who said his master's chestnut filly had been stolen and that he had seen the men who very much knocked him about and almost killed him. Esau Denton of Marston Moretaine, labourer - he was at Ampthill on the evening of 7 December. At about 11pm he was returning home to Marston Moretaine and about 3/4 mile before he reached home he saw his master's chestnut filly coming along the road with two men. When he came within reach he asked John Smith what he was going to do with his master's horse. Smith said "what odds does it make to you, you bugger". It was bright moonlight and he is satisfied Smith is the person who spoke to him. Smith then tried to kick his heels. He collared Smith and threw him down. The other man came behind him and struck him with the bottom part of a whip. He [Denton] then caught him by the collar and threw him down. He had several skirmishes with them and at last both men got him on his knees. One threatened to cut his throat. He got up and ran to his master's. During the scuffle he heard the mare run away. When he arrived he told his master and told his master's son that he thought it was a man named Smith. James Bates, superintendent of police of Ampthill Division - hearing a mare had been stolen he went with Esau Denton, William Stimson junior and John Young to St Albans, where he found Smith and said he wanted to take him so a person could identify him. Smith wanted to know what it was for, but he refused to tell him. He took Smith to a public house and left him in the charge of John Young the constable. He fetched Esau Denton who said Smith was the man. Smith then said if it was for horse stealing he knew nothing about it. John Young, constable of Dunstable - Esau Denton came to him on 11 December with Bates. Denton gave him a description of a man - from the description he knew the man and went with Bates and Denton to St Albans to his house and found Smith there.

item

Smith, John,
Stimson, William,
Denton, Esau

horse theft, police superintendent, police constable, MARSTON MORETAINE, St Albans, AMPTHILL