QSR1880/3/5/11

Depositions of William Addington, police sergeant, of Dunstable, Mary Ann Cheshire, widow of Dunstable and Llewellyn Darby, butcher of Dunstable, £20. To prosecute and give evidence in the case of Arthur Champkins accused of stealing a leg of lamb.

8 June 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

Llewellyn Darby: a butcher living at Upper Houghton Regis. He had a stall for the sale of meat at the Market Place in Dunstable. He packed up the left over meat in order to close the stall and put it in a barrow. There were several pieces of meat, 2 legs of lamb and a leg of pork. He put a cloth over the meat and tucked it round, and then put a heavy cloth on top of that. He told a boy named Groom, who was in the habit of taking meat about for him, to take the barrow to his house. When he got to the house, he unpacked it and missed a leg of lamb. In consequence of something told to him by Groom he advised the police and went with Sergeant Addington to the prisoner’s house. He saw the pieces of lamb and identified it as his. The prisoner’s mother was also present and as was a man and another female. Mrs Cheshire said she did not buy it. [cross examination] the piece of lamb taken did not look at clean as the piece of lamb produced [Interjection by the prisoner] he picked up the piece of lamb, by the Sugar Loaf along with some suet. It was tied in a blue handkerchief. He went down the street and wheeled the boy’s barrow a little while. The boy knew that he had a bundle with him. [cross examination continued] the lamb could not have slipped out. Frederick Groom: he saw Mr Darby pack up the meat. He put a cloth over it and tucked it in. The barrow seemed quite full. He was asked to wheel the barrow. It was the first time he had wheeled the barrow but he had carried some meat for hi before. He saw the prisoner who asked where he was going. He told him the prisoner and the prisoner said he was going to the Wheatsheaf to see if he could find Fred Mead. Champkins said he would wheel the barrow and he did, whilst Groom carried his bundle. The bundle had something soft in it. He did not see the prisoner interfere with the contents of the barrow. The prisoner left him at Dr Hicks, set down the barrow and took the bundle from him. The prisoner told him the bundle contained a leg of lamb. It was not heavy enough to do so. He took the barrow on to Mr Darby’s. It was possible the prisoner could have interfered with the barrow when they stood at Dr Hicks. [cross examined] he did not see the prisoner take meat from the barrow. When resting outside Hicks, the prisoner told him to run and see who was calling out in the street, to see if it was Fred Mead. He went to the road. He thought he would have seen a leg of lamb if the prisoner had taken it. William Addington: from information received he accompanied Mr Darby to the prisoner house and saw pieces of meat, which Darby identified as his. Some meat was frying in the fire. Mrs Cheshire denied having bought the lamb. The prisoner was charged and taken into custody. The tail and joints of the other leg of lamb matched exactly. The prisoner, on the way assaulted him and escaped for some time. The prisoner used very vial language. He was recaptured by Charles [?] who continued to assist. Statement of the accused – Arthur Champkins: he picked up the meat by the Sugar Loaf tied in a blue handkerchief and about a pound of suet. This was the parcel he gave to Groom to carry. On behalf of the defence – Mary Ann Cheshire: the prisoners mother. The meat in the pan was beef.

item

Champkins, Arthur,
Addington, William,
Cheshire, Mary Ann,
Darby, Llewellyn

DUNSTABLE, Dunstable Sugar Loaf, stealing, lamb, butcher