QSR1841/1/5/30/a

Depositions of Thomas Miller Waldock and Arthur Green - James Harris

26 December 1840

From: 1840 To: 1841

Thomas Miller Waldock of Harpur Street, St Paul, Bedford, butcher - on Thursday 24 December Harris and his wife came to his shop in Harpur Street to buy a piece of meat. After she looked at several pieces he weighed one, and she said she would call for it in half an hour if she had it. Neither of them came into the shop, but stood outside and his wife leaned against he door post. A few minutes after they left he went outside and missed a piece of beef called the "sticking" weighing about 4 1/2 lbs and worth about 2s 3d, which he had hung out about 10 minutes before they came. No one else had been at his shop during that time. No one could have gone near where it was hanging without his knowledge. He suspected Harris and his wife so went in search of them. He traced Harris to Wallis's in Gas Street, went for a policeman and returned to Wallis's. He saw Harris and his wife, Mr and Mrs Wallis, and part of the piece of beef on the table in the same room, which he was able to identify as his. Harris claimed he met a boy running with the beef who hit it against his knee - the boy, being frightened, gave it to Harris and ran away. Harris asked if he would be satisfied if he paid for the piece of meat. He said he would not. Arthur Green, constable of Bedford - vouches for the truth of Waldock's statement. He heard Harris deny he had been to Waldock's shop. As he entered the Cage door Harris said "honesty is the best policy after all, is it not?"

item

Harris, James,
Waldock, Thomas Miller,
Green, Arthur,
Wallis

Bedford St.Paul, Bedford Harpur Street, stealing, meat, butcher