QSR1851/4/5/11

Depositions of Elizabeth Greeves, wife of James, a dealer in Marine Stores of Leighton Buzzard, Martha Reeve, minor and Samuel Greatrex, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Matilda Smith, wife of William, accused of stealing a sovereign and a purse.

12 September 1851

From: 1851 To: 1851

Elizabeth Greeves: the wife of James, a dealer in marine stores, of North End Leighton Buzzard. The prisoner Smith lived next door. On 11 September, Greeves put a sovereign and silver in a purse inside a box which stood on a table in the shop. Soon after she went out, leaving a child of 7 years in the shop. She returned several minutes later to get the sovereign to purchase something. She found it gone. Martha Reeve told her Mrs Smith had been in the shop. The sovereign had been in a box which was shut but not locked. Martha Reeve: had turned 7 years the previous month and was daughter to Charles Reeve a brewer of Leighton Buzzard. When Mrs Greeves left the shop, there was nobody else left inside. Martha Smith came into the shop and asked for a besom and went out the back door into the barn. Martha went with her and she took a besom, returned to the shop with it, shutting Martha out. Martha could not open the back door. Martha went round some cottages and met the prisoner coming out of the shop. She saw Mrs Greeves returning and went in the shop with her. There was no one else in the shop. Martha saw sure Mrs Smith did not go into her own back door but into Mrs Greeves. Samuel Greatrex a police constable of Leighton Buzzard. He took the prisoner into custody. Smith said she went to the shop for a besom, going to the barn to get it and did not go back into Greeves house, but into her own house through her back door. On searching her he found a purse containing no money. He afterwards searched her house and did not find the money. Mrs Greeves saw the purse and claimed it as her own, having missed it and being able to accurately describe it.Statement of the accused: stated she was innocent of the charge. Her boy had been sent for some butter about 7 weeks previous and had come running back with the purse, saying he had picked it up and there was a sixpence in it. They put it in their window for anyone to see. She told Mrs Greeves of this incident and Mrs Greeves saw the purse several times. In the shop she asked the girl for the besom, and on leaving, she left the girl fastening the barn door whilst she left and went through her own back door.

item

Smith, Matilda,
Greatrex, Samuel,
Greeves, Elizabeth,
Reeve, Martha

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, money, marine stores dealer