QSR1841/4/5/9-10

Depositions and examinations - William Leak and Sarah Leak

27 July 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

John Taylor of Little Staughton, farmer - that morning he saw some pieces had been cut from a ham hanging in his chimney corner and taken away. Charles Sanders came to him and said he had found some meat. He went to look at the meat, took it home and the pieces fitted the ham. He suspected the prisoners had taken the ham as twice the previous night they had blown the candle out in the room where the ham was and where they were stopping. He keeps the Shoulder of Mutton public house in Little Staughton. The pieces of ham were found about 60 yards from his house by the road side. Charles Sanders of Little Staughton, yeoman - the previous day the prisoners were both at John Taylor's house. He once lit the candle when it had been put out in the room they were in. That morning he pointed out one of the pieces of ham to John Taylor. Elisha Bull of Little Staughton - he saw the female prisoner standing in the chimney corner about 1 o'clock that morning where some hams were hanging. While she was there William Leak put the candle out. About a 1/4 to 1/2 an hour later the 2 prisoners went out together and he saw no more of them. James Hall of Staughton Moor, labourer - that morning he was in John Taylor's parlour. Both the prisoners were there. They were talking and William Leak said "I am innocent". The woman said "I had it". Charles Sanders [further information] - a small bush was stuck opposite the spot where the pieces of ham were William Parker of Rushden (Northants) - he was at Little Staughton Feast on Monday and Tuesday. Between 11 and 12 on Monday night he saw both the prisoners come out of John Taylor's yard at Little Staughton and go down the road towards Bushmead. He also saw them again come out of John Taylor's yard and go towards Bushmead on Tuesday morning. Frances Taylor of Bushmead - John Taylor is her father. She went to his house on Monday and was there on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning both the prisoners were in her father's parlour having been apprehended by the constable. The man prisoner was crying when the woman prisoner said "never mind boy don't cry for I stole the meat". She said "you good for nothing woman for stealing my father's meat". William Leak - "I am innocent and know no more than a baby unborn - when the candle was put out I was in the parlour." Sarah Leak - "I am innocent"

item

Leak, William,
Leak, Sarah,
Taylor, John,
Sanders, Charles,
Bull, Elisha,
Hall, James,
Parker, William,
Taylor, Frances

Little Staughton, Bushmead, Rushden, Little Staughton Shoulder of Mutton, stealing, ham