QSR1852/4/5/6/a

Depositions of Joseph Smith, labourer of Little Staughton and William Snell, police constable of Keysoe. To give evidence John Cator accused of stealing a coat.

3 August 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Joseph Smith: had been working in a field in Little Staughton and laid his brown velveteen coat within a hedge, whilst he worked. About 5 o'clock, the prisoner came to him in the field and asked the way to Pertenhall. Smith told him and went on with his work. About 8 o'clock he looked for his coat but it had gone. He advised William Snell of the loss. He went with Snell to a house in Little Staughton and they found the prisoner in bed. They found the coat in the house below. The prisoner said he had bought the coat and paid a shilling for it. William Snell: was approached by Joseph Smith to help him recover his lost coat. From information received they went to a lodging house and Smith identified his coat in the house. They found the prisoner in bed and Smith charged him with stealing his coat. The prisoner denied that he had stolen the coat and said he had bought it and given a shilling for it.

item

Cator, John,
Smith, Joseph,
Snell, William

Little Staughton, KEYSOE, stealing, coat