QSR1880/4/5/8

John Battams, labourer of Heath & Reach, John Olden, police sergeant of Leighton Buzzard, James Battams, labourer of Heath & Reach and Charles Plowman, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Charles Baines accused of stealing 4 pound, a shilling and sixpence, and a knife from the person.

4 September 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

John Battams: on the night of 4 September he went to Leighton Buzzard. He saw the prisoner in North Street and they went together to the Bell public house and he treated him to beer. His brothers James and Frederick were with them. The prisoner asked his brother James to lend him some money as he had none. The prisoner was standing close by when John Battams got his purse out to pay for some beer. There was £4 3s in the purse. He checked his purse on leaving and found he had £4 1s 6d, he returned the purse to his left trouser pocket and went with the prisoner and his brother down North Street. His brother, Frederick went to get his hair cut, so he waited for him and the prisoner went on down the street. Afterwards he went down the street leaving his brother at the barbers. The prisoner joined him again near Kings Arms and they went towards the Stag. Before the Stag, the prisoner saw the policeman and decided to walk in front of Battams. Just before they got to Cowper’s house they came to a gate. Baines suggested they go over the gate and lie down. They did so and the prisoner began handling Battams, who told him to give over. He did so and pretended to go to sleep. Battams fell asleep and when he woke, the prisoner had gone and the pockets of his trousers were turned out. The purse, money and his knife had gone and his belt was unbuckled. He had been quite sober that night and had known the prisoner for some years. John Olden: a police sergeant stationed at Leighton Buzzard. The prosecutor came to make his complaint on 5 September and Olden went in search of the prisoner. He apprehended him and the prisoner said nothing. He found 5 shillings and 3 pence on the prisoner when he searched him. The prisoner said he had earned the money at Websters and he had left the prosecutor at High’s corner and had come home. Olden went to examine the field Battams had said they had been in, and he found the marks in the grass where 2 people had laid side by side. James Battams: a labourer at Heath & Reach. On 4 September he saw the prisoner in the Bell Inn in Leighton. His 2 brothers were with him at the time. John was one of them. They all drank together and Baines asked him to lend him 2 pence and he wanted to pay his share but had no money. He told Baines he did not have it to spare. Baines did not pay for any of the beer. John paid for some of the beer and took his purse out to do so. The prisoner was close by. He left about 10.30pm and saw no more of them that night. Charles Plowman: police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard. He was on duty on 4 September about 11.30pm near the Stag public house. Several people passed him going in the direction of Heath & Reach. Among them was the prosecutor. He was then alone. He did not see the prisoner but he could have passed without him noticing. The prosecutor appeared sober. Statement of the accused – Charles Baines: “I never had and never seen it”.

item

Baines, Charles,
Battams, John,
Battams, James,
Battams, Frederick,
Olden, John,
Plowman, Charles

HEATH & REACH, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Leighton Buzzard Bell, Leighton Buzzard Stag, stealing, money