QSR1883/2/5/8

Depositions of Edward Evans, ostler at the Plume of Feathers Inn, Leighton Buzzard, William Janes the elder, of Leighton Buzzard, Frederick Turner, labourer of Leighton Buzzard, John Janes, painter of Leighton Buzzard, Samuel Underwood, carpenter of Leighton Buzzard and Thomas Ruffhead, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard, £10 In the case of William Janes accused of stealing an earthenware bottle containing gin.

27 March 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

Edward Evans: ostler at the Plume of Feathers in Leighton Buzzard. On 20 March the bottle was committed to his care and he placed it in the trap of John Cleavers, which was standing in the yard. He later saw John Underwood in the yard about 15 yards from the trap. He went up the yard after him and saw Janes close to the dung pit about 20 yards from the cart. Both men ran and he ran after them. Janes was carrying something. Janes dropped the bottle. He continued to follow them and they parted. He continued to follow Janes but he got away. He was certain it was Janes as he had seen him the yard that morning but was not so sure about Underwood. He informed the police and that evening in the Peacock public house he pointed out them out to PC Ruffhead. They were together in the bagatelle room. Thomas Ruffhead: he was advised by Evans of the theft and that evening was called to the Peacock public house where Evans pointed out Janes and Underwood to him. He charged them wit stealing the bottles. Janes agreed but Underwood said he knew nothing about it and didn’t want to be locked up. Evans told Janes he was dressed differently to what he had been earlier as he had earlier worn cord trousers. Janes replied he was dressed the same and did not own cord trousers. Janes later said he had an old pair of cord trousers. He went to Janes house and from information given to him by Janes’s mother, he went to Mrs Smith in Friday Street who gave him a pair of cord trousers. Janes was shown them and agreed they were his. Statement of William Janes: he had been at work with his horse and cart all morning on 20 March and was done about 12.30 when he went to the tap room of the Royal Oak and had some beer. He then went to a woodsale for his father in Church Square. He arrived as the sale had begun and he saw Fredrick Turner there and briefly went with him to show some pigeons. He hen returned to the sale and did not see Underwood until the evening. After the sale he assisted his father in carting some wood from the sale.Defence depositions – William Janes the elder: a cartman and father of William. On 20 March his son came home to dinner. He arrived home about 12.30 and his son was unloading beer from the cart. Once his son had finished they had dinner. His son remained home for about another hour and they went to the wood sale. His son was at the sale until 3pm and help him cart hoe some of the timber from the sale. His son would pass the Plume of Feather on his way to work in the morning. He had left for the wood sale before his son. He only missed his son for 5 or 10 minutes during the sale. He could not say if that was long enough to go to the Plume of Feathers and back. His son sometimes wore cord trousers. On 20 March his son’s cord trousers were being repaired. Frederick Turner: on 20 March between 2 and 3pm he saw Janes at the wood sale. He went with him to his house to look at some pigeons, and they then returned to the sale. He had been at the sale before Janes and had not seen Underwood there. John Janes: on 20 Match between 1 and 2pm he was at work in his office which is next door to William Janes house. Janes was in the yard watching his pigeons. He saw him again at 3pm when Janes was assisting his father at the wood sale. Samuel Underwood: brother of the prisoner Underwood. On 20 March he saw Janes on Church Square at 1.30pm. He knew the time by the town clock. They had begun to sell when he got there and Janes came up to him about 5 minutes after they had arrived.

item

Janes, William,
Evans, Edward,
Janes, William,
Turner, Frederick,
Janes, John,
Underwood, Samuel,
Ruffhead, Thomas

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, ostler, painter, carpenter, stealing, gin, Leighton Buzzard Peacock, Leighton Buzzard Royal Oak, Leighton Buzzard Plume of Feathers