QSR1852/3/5/31

Depositions of Thomas Adams, carpenter of Heath & Reach, John Olden, police constable of Leighton Buzzard and Charles Reeve, labourer of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Elias Thorne accused of stealing a clasp knife.

23 June 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Thomas Adams: a carpenter of Heath & Reach. On 3 June he was tipsy in Leighton Buzzard and before returning home he knew he had 3 half crowns and a buck horn double bladed clasp knife in his waistcoat pocket. He remembered someone went home with him but was unsure who. It had been a Club Feast. On returning home he missed his money and next morning his knife. On 22 June he saw the prisoner at the Red Lion Inn at Leighton Buzzard. He had not seen him since 3 June. The prisoner drank with him on occasion. The prisoner asked if he had lost a knife. The prisoner said "you lost it out of that pocket" pointing to his left had waistcoat pocket. He went on to say he knew a chap who had it and if he gave him a shillings worth of drink, he would fetch it. The prisoner went on to say that he had picked it up at Charles Wingfield's and had been sold to Charles Reeve for a shilling. Charles Reeve: he knew the prisoner well and on 16 June he was in his company at the Buffalo Inn in Leighton. He pulled a knife out of his pocket and offered it for sale. He said he had found it. He agreed to buy it for 9 pence. John Olden: took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said he had sold the knife to Charles reeve and that he had picked it up opposite the Kings Arms in Leighton the night the prosecutor lost it.Statement of the accused: he did not steal the knife. He picked it up and after he had sold it, some people said it had been Thomas Adam's knife. He would have taken it to Adams first if he had known.

item

Thorne, Elias,
Adams, Thomas,
Reeve, Charles,
Olden, John,
Wingfield, Charles

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, HEATH & REACH, feasts, carpenter, Leighton Buzzard Buffalo