QSR1852/1/5/25

Depositions of Frederick Fleet, labourer of Eversholt, Thomas Smith, dairyman of Eversholt, William Mead, journeyman baker, and James Peck, police constable. In the case of David Taylor accused of stealing 2 half quartern loaves of bread.

22 December 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

Frederick Fleet: a labourer of Eversholt. On 20 December he was at Hills End in Eversholt. He saw the prosecutors cart and horse standing there. Whilst Mead was in the house, David Taylor got on the wheel of the cart and took 2 half quartern loaves. Taylor then ran away. About 5 minutes alter the prosecutor came to Fleet and said he had missed some loaves. Fleet told him he had seen Taylor. He also said Joseph Smith had been standing close by him when Taylor took the loaves and he had seen him go off in the same direction as Taylor when he ran away. Thomas Smith: a dairyman of Eversholt. On 20 December he was at Hills End Eversholt and met the prosecutor there with his horse and cart. He spoke to Mead, and then as Mead was about to go on, he stopped and spoke to Frederick Fleet asking him if he had been smoking his pipe when he had alighted to take in the bread. Fleet said he had and he had seen Taff Taylor take the bread and Joe Smith had been there too, and went off after Taylor. Soon after this Thomas Smith was going towards Church End when he met Joseph Smith going towards Hills End. It was dark. He asked Joseph Smith if he had taken some bread but Joseph moved on. Thomas Smith stopped him and discovered Joseph had something under is smock frock. Thomas Smith believed it to be bread. William Mead: a journeyman baker, living at Eversholt. He was told Taff Taylor had taken bread from his cart so he went off in the direction he was advised. He found Taylor lying down across a footpath leading from Hills End to Brook End. He asked Taylor why he was lying there but received no answer. He appeared quite intoxicated. Taylor had half of a loaf close by him and when asked where it got it, Taylor’s reply was barely audible but believed to be “What odds is it to you”. Mead fetched the policeman and Taylor was taken into custody. James Peck: a police constable stationed at Eversholt. The prosecutor came to his house and told how had had lost 2 loaves. He accompanied Mead to the place he had previously come across Taylor. Taylor was under a hedge. When accused, Taylor began to swear and said he knew nothing of the charge. He appeared to be drunk and had blackening to his face. Peck took him into custody. Following information from Thomas Smith he also went to charge Joe Smith. Smith said he had not taken the loaf but found it by the side of Taylor, as he had lay by the hedge. Smith expressed his sorrow at doing so.Statement of the accused: nothing to say

item

Taylor, David,
Fleet, Frederick,
Smith, Thomas,
Mead, William,
Peck, James

EVERSHOLT, Eversholt Hills End, stealing, bread, dairyman, baker