QSR1872/1/5/4

Depositions and examination - Mary Finch of Leighton Buzzard, singlewoman, charged with stealing 12 lbs of beef from Thomas Hopkins at Leighton Buzzard on 14 December 1871

26 December 1871

From: 1871 To: 1872

Thomas Hopkins of Leighton Buzzard, butcher – he know Finch. She has been a customer of his. On Thursday 14 December she was at his shop when he arrived there. She was just leaving. There was no one in the shop at the time – the boys had gone to dinner. He spoke to Finch and asked if anyone was in the shop. She said “it is all right”. He saw a round tin in her hand, similar to the one produced. He can’t say if it was covered at all. He was informed by 2 boys that Finch had taken some meat from his shop. He missed the short ribs of some beef that was hung up on the rail by the fireplace. There was an aitch bone of beef on the slab inside the shop. He can swear the aitch bone of beef produced is his, as are the 3 pieces of the tops of the ribs. The beef weights 12lbs and is worth 7s. James Felce of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – he knows Finch by sight. On 14 December about 2pm he saw her in front of Hopkins’ shop. George Smith was with him. He saw Finch take the piece of beef from Mr Hopkins’ shop in front of the slab. It dropped down from her hand. Finch was then in the street. She then went into the shop and he saw her take a smaller piece of beef, the tops of ribs, off a hook in the shop. He can swear to the 3 pieces, which when she took it was in one piece. Finch placed them in a can similar to the one produced. She went off with the tops of the ribs and the can. He saw Mr Hopkins come to the shop door. Finch went away from the shop altogether. He saw her turn the corner. She then went back to the shop and took an aitch bone of beef from the slab in the shop. She went about 10 to 12 yards from the shop. He spoke to her about the beef and she said “I bought it and paid for it”. Later she said she had not paid for it and asked him to go and have some beer. He refused. She asked if he would take the beef back again. He refused. She then said she would take it back herself. She dropped the aitch bone down, picked it up again and went to Mr Hopkins shop with it. She laid it on the side board in the shop. He told Mr Hopkins what had taken place. Finch had the can produced when she left the shop. She looked round before putting the ribs of beef in it. When he saw her in the shop, there was no one else there. George Smith of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – he is 18 years old and lives with his parents at Leighton. He knows Finch by sight. On 14 December he was with James Felce. He saw Finch try to hide a piece of meat which she dropped. He had seen her before this at Hopkins’ shop. She was outside trying to take the aitch bone which lay on the slab. That was the piece of meat she dropped. He saw her pick it up again. When she saw him and Felce Finch laid it on the slab again. After that he saw Finch go into the shop towards the fireplace. He saw she had a piece of meat in her hand. She looked round and put it out of sight. He saw her draw it towards her. There was no one else in the shop. He saw Mr Hopkins and told him what had happened. He heard Finch say to Felce that she bought the beef and paid for it. He heard her say to Felce “you needn’t tell anybody about it”. William Knight Clough, superintendent of police for Leighton Buzzard Division – about 3pm on 14 December he heard of the robbery. He went to Finch’s house at Leighton with PC Thomas Ruffhead. He charged Finch with stealing 2 pieces of beef. She said she knew nothing about it and had not been out of the house all day, but had been ill in bed. He saw the kettle produced with 3 pieces of meat and some fat in it. He saw the tin removed from the garden ground belonging to the house. It was practically buried. The kettle was covered by an old tin pail. He took possession of the tin and the meat in it, and took Finch into custody. Thomas Ruffhead, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard – he accompanied Mr Clough to Finch’s house. She was charged with stealing meat from Hopkins’ shop. She said she knew nothing about it as she had been at home ill in bed all day. He told her he must search the house. She said he was welcome and pointed out her garden to him. Finch went with him and tried to prevent him seeing something. He saw the tin produced under a large tin can with part of it in the ground. Inside the tin was the meat in 3 pieces and piece of fat. He received the aitch bone of beef from Mr Hopkins the same day. Hopkins identified the 3 pieces found in the can. Mary Finch – she does not wish to say anything.

item

Finch, Mary,
Hopkins, Thomas,
Felce, James,
Smith, George,
Clough, William Knight,
Ruffhead, Thomas

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, beef, butcher, police superintendent, police constable