QSR1852/3/5/6/a

Depositions of William Hines, farm bailiff of Luton, Daniel Tomlin, labourer of Market Street, Bedford, Thomas Cooke, labourer of Studham, Henry John Coulter, police constable of Caddington and James Turner, blacksmith of Flamstead. In the case of John Cain, acccused of stealing iron chain.

21 April 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

William Hine: a farm steward to Samuel Crawley esq. On 20 April he received information leading him to the Ice House at Stockwood, where he found a chain which went around one side of the ice house, missing. Constable Coulter, who was with him, had a chain. It past through 2 holes in the posts, and corresponded in length to the missing chain. He also believed it to be the missing chain due to paint markings on it. Daniel Tomlin: On 9 April he was at work in a field near the Broadside at Woodside in parish of Caddington. He saw the prisoner go up the road towards Markyate Street with some chain upon his shoulders. He spoke to him and asked what he was doing with the chain. Cain replied he did not know what he was going to do with it. It was a rusty chain and there was a great deal of it. Thomas Cook: on 9 April he was searching for some plough chain belonging to Sir Thomas Sebright which had recently been lost. Whilst searching a hedge between Flamstead and Studham he came across some freshly moved leaves. He hit them with his stick and discovered the chain under them. He took the chain to his master and remained with it until the arrival of Constable Coulter. Henry John Coulter: a police constable stationed at Markyate Street. On 9 April he received from Thomas Cook a chain. On 10 April he went to ask John Cain if he knew anything of the missing chain. Cain said he had heard about it but not seen it. Coulter enquired of Cain's whereabouts on the night of the 8 April and Cain said he was at the Lion at Studham where he lodged. Cain said that on Friday 9 April he went to Luton to order a dray of beer for Mt Holloway of Studham. Cain said he had bought a chain from Brown & Green's at Luton for Mr Turner on 9 April. Asked the length of it, Cain said about 27 or 28 yards. Coulter visited Cain again at Mr Turner’s shop and asked again about the chain in Mr Turner’s presence. Cains said he had laid the chain in the doorway of Mr Turner's shop. Turner said he had not seen the chain and he had not bought any. Coulter asked if Cain was certain about where he had got the chain and Cain said he had found the chain in Woodside against Mr Crawley's field. He took Cain into custody. James Turner: a blacksmith of Markyate Street and employer of John Cain about 3 days a week. Cain was not employed by him on the 8,9 or 10 April, but Cain came to the shop on 10 April to do some work for himself. Turner gave him no orders about a chain. Coulter came to him on 10 April when the prisoner was there. The prisoner stated he had fetched the chain from Brown & Green's for Turner. Turner sent his son with a note to Brown & Greens asking if this was true. The answer was that it was not true.

item

Cain, John,
Hines, William,
Tomlin, Daniel,
Cooke, Thomas,
Coulter, Henry John,
Turner, James,
Crawley, Samuel,
Sebright, Thomas,
Holloway

LUTON, Flamstead, STUDHAM, CADDINGTON, Stockwood, Market Street, stealing, ice houses, chain, blacksmith, farm bailiff