QSR1843/3/5/17

Depositions and examination - Thomas Cook and Stephen Sapwell of Dunstable, labourers, charged with stealing a ham from Mary Cartwright

5 June 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

William Champkin of Dunstable, labourer - last Friday night Mrs Mary Cartwright with whom he lives as servant at Dunstable lost 2 hams and a leveret from her barn. He saw them on the Friday evening. The only fastening to the barn is a latch. He went into the barn on Saturday morning about 6.30 and missed the hams and the leveret. The ham now produced is one of the hams taken. The barn had been broken into through the boarding from the yard at the back of the Shoulder of Mutton. John Tutte of Dunstable, constable no.30 of the Bedfordshire Rural Police - on Saturday morning he was informed of the robbery. On Sunday evening he was in plain clothes going his rounds on duty up Butts Lane in Dunsatble. He saw the two prisoners turn the corner at Periwinkle Lane. Thomas Cook had something on his shoulder. On seeing him they appeared to speak to each other. Cook turned back down Periwinkle Lane. He ran after Cook, who appeared to try to conceal under his jacket what he had on his shoulder. When he got up to Cook he turned round and asked if he [Tutte] wanted him. He said he wanted to see what he had got in the bag. Cook said it was a ham and he had just found it. They had been round the fields birds nesting and Stephen Sapwell saw him pick it up. He later asked Sapwell in the presence of Cook if he saw Cook find the ham. Sapwell said he knew nothing at all about it. the value of the ham was about half a crown. Thomas Cook - on Sunday afternoon he started to look at his brother's potatoes. After he had looked at them he went on the other side of the hedge. He saw something in the ditch. He pushed the nettles on one side and saw a bag. He took the bag and when he got half way up the field looked into it. He found the ham. When he got to the top of the field he told Sapwell what he had found. He was at home and abed on Friday about 15 or 20 minutes after 9. About 9pm Thomas Ellingham told him wanted him to fetch some ashes from Mr Halifax's. Ellingham told him to come before 5am. He went and called him before 4. [Thomas Cook committed to trial. Stephen Sapwell discharged.]

item

Cook, Thomas,
Sapwell, Stephen,
Champkin, William,
Tutte, John,
Cartwright, Mary,
Ellingham, Thomas

DUNSTABLE, Dunstable Butts Lane, Dunstable Periwinkle Lane, stealing, ham, hare, police constable, Dunstable Shoulder of Mutton