QSR1853/2/5/1/c

Statement of the accused - George Spencer

11 March 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

Spencer had been present on 2 March when Rowe had organised borrowing a pony from Daniel Hawkins, to take cheese to Barford. The next day he went to Mr Rowe’s house and helped to load the cart with cheese. They started out to Goldington, then to Mr Mardlin’s at Blunham. The prosecutor drank beer there with some men in the tap room. Mardlin helped Rowe into the cart and they went on to Barford. Rowe bought 2 gin & waters, pulling money from pocket to pay for it. He could not find a sixpence so Spencer helped him. They went on again. The pony stopped outside Barford and Rowe pitched over the side of the cart, Spencer caught hold of him and pulled him back. They went on again and Spencer fell asleep. Rowe woke him up about 2 miles from Barford and said “The pony is on one side of the road I think”. Spencer told him he had been asleep and Rowe said he had been too. Spencer put the pony onto the road and Rowe tumbled backwards off his seat and caught his head on the back of the cart. Rowe decided to lie on the bottom of the cart, covered in a rug. They went on to Bedford and saw Mr Humphrey. Spencer told him Rowe was asleep in the cart. Rowe missed his money and asked Spencer if he had it.

item

Spencer, George,
Rowe, John,
Hawkins, Daniel,
Mardlin, Samuel,
Humphreys, James

stealing, money, BLUNHAM, Great Barford, St. Paul Bedford, victualler, cheese, Bedford White Horse, Harpur Street/Midland Road