QSR1851/4/5/3

Depositions of John Farmer, labourer of Toddington, David Hart, labourer of Toddington, John Thorogood, police constable of Toddington, and Humphrey Adams, labourer of Toddington. In the case of Charles King, accused of stealing 2 pairs of trouser and a handkerchief.

22 June 1851

From: 1851 To: 1851

John Farmer: on 21 June, he left 2 pairs of trousers (one fustian and one cord) and a cotton handkerchief in a barn about a quarter of a mile from his house. The barn was in Osbornes Yard, and there are several cottages in the yard. He locked the barn on leaving and on returning after church the next day, the items were gone. John Thorogood: was on duty as a Police Constable at Toddington on the night of the 21 June. About a quarter to midnight he was standing across from the prosecutor’s barn in Toddington with someone else. Charles King passed them. The next day the prosecutor advised him of his loss. Thorogood suspect the prisoner as he had seen him that previous night and from what he had heard about him in the yard. He went to King's lodging house and was informed he had been absent for several nights. A bundle containing the trousers and handkerchief was given to him on the 22 June, David Hart, who lived in Osborne's yard. Hart had found them in the yard. On 5 August, Thororgood saw the accused in a field in Toddington and took him into custody. The prisoner said that he had been at the barn but had not taken the clothes. He had gone up the garden with a bundle which he was taking to his mothers, but she had not been there. David Hart: found the bundle, by his gate, in Osborne's Yard in Toddington. He had passed by a few minutes previous, and the bundle had not been there. He delivered the bundle to Constable Thorogood. Humphrey Adams: he had seen King lying in the grass in a field near Osborne's Yard. King had a bundle with him. They exchanged a few words, and King went off towards Osborne's yard and about 5 minutes later he returned without the bundle.Statement of the accused: stated he did not know there was anything in John Farmer's barn. He had gone to get something from his Mother’s home, going the back way, but she was not home and he could not have it. He went on to Dunstable. The bundle was not there when he went to his mother, or when he returned.

item

Farmer, John,
Hart, David,
Thorogood, John,
Adams, Humphrey,
King, Charles

TODDINGTON, handkerchief, trousers, stealing