QSR1842/4/5/30/a

Depositions - John Allen

30 August 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

William Stephens of Harrold, butcher - he was in his shop yesterday until 6pm. He was absent for about an hour and on his return was told by a little boy he had asked to watch a sheep hanging up outside the shop that John Allen of Harrold had been in and taken some meat without anyone being there to wait upon him. He looked around the shop and missed one piece of pork about 2lbs weight. He went to Allen who denied having had any pork. He then told the policeman Joseph Neale who made a search. He enquired of the people in his house if Allen had bought any pork or meat and found he had not. Stephen Stevens of Harrold, butcher - about 6.45pm last night John Allen came to him in his father's shop and asked him to sell him a sheep's head. He thought Allen did not wish to buy one and did not fetch him one, but went away, leaving him in the shop. His mother was also there. She came into the house to him immediately afterwards. About 10 to 15 minutes later his father asked if he had sold any meat. He said no. He returned to the shop with his father and they both missed the piece of pork. He informed the police. Joseph Neal of Harrold, rural police - about 8pm the previous night he went to search John Allen's house with the police constable, having previously taken Allen into custody at a public house in Harrold. He searched Allen and found on the outside of his pocket grease and salt as though from pork, and the pocket was quite wet inside from brine. They could find nothing on the premises, but discovered the frying pan had been used a short time before, apparently for the purpose of frying salt fat meat. The coat was worn by Allen at the time he took him, and he pointed out to Allen the salt in his pocket. He immediately tried to brush it off. It was the same pocket as that in which the little boy Crouch had said he had put the meat. John Crouch, an infant of Harrold, son of Christopher Crouch of Harrold, not on oath.

item

Allen, John,
Stevens, William,
Stevens, Stephen,
Neal, Joseph,
Crouch, John

HARROLD, butcher, stealing, pork