Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1852/4/5/10
  • Title
    Depositions of James Goodman, labourer of Steppingley, Daniel Sear, parish constable of Steppingley, and Charles Flint, police constable of Cranfield. In the case of David Beard accused of stealing a sleeve waistcoat and a knife.
  • Date free text
    23 August 1852
  • Production date
    From: 1852 To: 1852
  • Scope and Content
    James Goodman: was working on 23 July in the fields at Steppingley. He had left a sleeve waistcoat with a shut knife in it on the ground. About dinner time he missed the waistcoat and knife. There were 4 more men working in the same field, who also missed items. He did not know the prisoner and did not see him about the field. He informed the police of his loss and on 26 July a knife was shown to him by the parish constable (Sear). He identified it as the one he had lost. Daniel Sear: he apprehended the prisoner in 23 July. He was a stranger to him. The prisoner said he was from Leighton and that he was going to Eversholt to buy gooseberries. He said his name was David Beard. Sear asked him if he had a knife. He hesitated and the produced a knife which he said he had found down Millbrook Road. Millbrook Road was in the opposite direction to Leighton. He took him into custody and took him before Captain Moore, a magistrate at Maulden. Moore ordered the prisoner to wait outside the door whilst Sear advised him of the charge. On being told to bring the prisoner back in, Sear found he had bolted. On going to the magistrate Beard said he was from Marston. Charles Flint: on 27 July he received instruction from the Superintendent of Police to apprehend a man called David Beard living at Marston. He went to his house on several occasion and search it, but Beard was not there. He finally apprehended him whilst he was in his bed. He told Beard of the charge and Beard said he knew nothing of the clothing and the knife he had found near Ampthill.Statement of the accused: he found the knife and knew nothing of the waistcoat.
  • Reference
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