QSR1852/1/5/22/a

Depositions Alfred Flint, baker of Luton and Alfred Atherton Murfin, police constable of Luton. In the case of William Ellis accused of stealing 2 loaves of bread.

17 December 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

Alfred Flint: a baker working for Mr Richard How of Luton. He took the bread out around the villages. He was responsible for accounting for all he took and if any was lost he had to pay for it. On 15 December, he was at the stables of the Black Swan in Limbury, and the prisoner was there. Flint moved to the next house to sell bread, and when he went inside the prisoner was outside near his cart. Ob returning from the house he called out to the prisoner, but the prisoner did not reply. The prisoner had said he was going to Leagrave Marsh and had asked to ride in the cart with him. Flint fetched a candle and found Ellis lying by the side of the road. He also saw that someone had meddled with the bread in the cart. The prisoner rode to Leagrave Marsh with him. On the way Flint thought he could feel something like bread in the prisoner’s pocket. They went to the Horse Shoes public house and the prisoner left a box and bag outside. Flint looked in the bag and found some bread. There was a quartern loaf and the bottom part of another. The prisoner pulled the top part of the loaf (in pieces) out of his pocket. Flint went on to Leagrave and then returned and place Ellis in the custody of the police. Alfred Atherton Murfin: on 15 December between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, Flint brought the prisoner to the police station and charged him with stealing 2 quartern loaves.

item

Ellis, William,
Flint, Alfred,
Murfin, Alfred Atherton

LUTON, Limbury Black Swan, Leagrave Marsh, Leagrave Horse Shoes, stealing, bread, tinker, baker