QSR1852/1/5/10-13

Depositions of Reuben Green, bricklayer of Eddlesborough, Alfred Green, Joseph Fowler, ostler of Leighton Buzzard, and Samuel Greatrix, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of John Read, John Sheppard, Jesse Sharp & Alfred Geeves accused of stealing 2 shillings and 3 pence and a felt hat.

3 December 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

Reuben Green: lived at Eddlesborough but travelled the country with a donkey and cart. On the evening of 27 November he was at The Sun Inn in Leighton Buzzard. He left his brother outside with the donkey and cart. When he went to look for him, he was gone. He found him in the skittle alley at the back of the Inn. There was a disturbance between his brother and the 4 men that were there. He recognised all the men by sight but not by name. He believed they were about to beat his brother. One of the men, John Sheppard, knocked out the light. He believed this to be on purpose. The men set upon Reuben Green, knocked him down and kicked his severely. He called out 'murder'. The landlord of the house came with a light. The prisoners all ran away. In the scuffle he lost his hat and 2 shillings and 3 pence. He had the money safe before he went into the skittle alley and the hat had been on his head. He and his brother left soon after and returned home. Green was ill afterwards and sore where he had been kicked. He believed his ribs broken. Alfred Green: 14 years old and lived with his brother, Reuben Green in Eddlesborough. He would travel the country with his brother and his donkey and cart. On 25 November, they were in Leighton Buzzard and went to the Sun Inn. His brother went into the Sun Inn whilst he remained outside. He went to the skittle alley at the back of the house. There were 4 men playing skittles by candlelight. He knew them well and played one game with them. The man he played with lost half a pint of beer which he was unwilling to pay. The caused a wrangle. His brother came into the yard and he told his brother the man would not pay what he had lost. His brother wanted him to come away but as they were leaving the light was knocked out by John Sheppard. He and his brother were knocked down and ill used. He heard his brother call out 'murder'. The landlord, Mr Young came out with a light and the prisoners ran away. His brother told hi he had lost his hat and 2 shillings 3 pence. He searched for them but found nothing. Joseph Fowler: he saw the 4 prisoners in his masters skittle yard. He saw the Green brothers there too. He saw 3 prisoners run away, but did not know what became of the other. They were in a hurry to get away. Reuben Green informed him he had been robbed. Soon after, Reuben and Alfred Green left the premises. 2 of the prisoners, Read & Sheppard came and asked him for a light to look for the hat. He gave them a light and went into the alley with them. They went directly to a place in the corner behind a hurdle and took out the hat. Sheppard said it was his hat. Fowler told him it was Green's but Sheppard denied it and took the hat away. Samuel Gratrix: a police constable of Leighton buzzard. He was told by Joseph Fowler of the loss of Reuben Green's hat and money. Reuben Green described the men to him and said there were 4 of them. He found the prisoners Read, Sheppard & Sharp at the Cross Keys in Leighton. Read had a hat on which match the description of the one lost by Green. He called Read out of the house and asked him how he came by it. He said it belonged to Sheppard. He called Sheppard from the house and asked about it. He originally said he knew nothing of it but then said he had bought it from Mr Deverell’s stall on the market. He took Sheppard to Deverell's house and he denied selling it to Sheppard. He took Sheppard to his house and Sheppard said that he had the hat from the skittle alley. Reuben Green confirmed it as his property. All 4 men were taken into custody and said they were innocent.Statement of the accused - John Read: Alfred Green came to the alley and said he would play. He played Green for a pint. Green ran away. Reuben Green challenged him to play for half a crown and Read said he would not. Reuben Green struck him. John Sheppard: said that he did not put out the light. Jesse Sharp: Reuben Green knocked him down but he did not return it. Alfred Geeves: Reuben Green played with John Read for 2 half pints of beer and lost the game.

item

Read, John,
Sheppard, John,
Sharp, Jesse,
Geeves, Alfred,
Green, Reuben,
Green, Alfred,
Fowler, Joseph,
Greatrex, Samuel,
Deverell

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Eddlesborough, money, stealing, hats, bricklayer, ostler, Leighton Buzzard Sun, beer, skittles