Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1871/4/5/2/b
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - John Stringer of Maulden, charged with stealing one live tame rabbits from Edward Howson, value 2s. [The accused's brother William Stringer was also taken into custody but apparently not charged]
  • Date free text
    10 August 1871
  • Production date
    From: 1871 To: 1871
  • Scope and Content
    Edward Howson of Flitwick, carrier – he knows both prisoners. He keeps tame rabbits in a hutch in his barn. On 28 July at 10pm he fastened the hutch door. On 29 July about 5am one of the rabbits was running about the yard. The hutch door was open and he missed the other rabbit – a brown and white spotted doe. On 30 July he identified a dead rabbit at Ampthill Police Station as his. The skin of the rabbit now produced belongs to it. William Cherry of Houghton Conquest, gardener – on Saturday 29 July he was at the Chequers Public House at Houghton Conquest between 4 and 6pm. He saw John Stringer there who offered to sell him a rabbit. Stringer showed him a spotted brown and white one. He did not buy it. He believes the skin produced is the skin of that rabbit. Stringer took the rabbit out a basket. There was a lad with him about the size of the other prisoner. Amos Glenister, police constable stationed at Clophill – on 29th July he had the prisoners in custody on another charge of stealing rabbits. William Stringer said “if you will let me go home I’ll tell you where the other 2 rabbits are. They are in a plantation between Maulden and Ampthill”. He went there with PC Osborne and found 2 rabbits in a basket concealed in the underwood. The brown and white spotted skin is the skin of one of the rabbits. William Hillyard, police sergeant stationed at Ampthill – on 30th July William Stringer was shown a rabbit the skin of which is now produced. He said “I believe that is the one my brother put in a basket and hid in a plantation”. John Stringer said “It’s no use denying it or telling a lie about it. That is the one I had from Howson’s.” John Stringer - does not wish to say anything.
  • Level of description
    item
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