QSR1873/4/5/5

Depositions and examination - George Rowley charged with stealing one scythe and one rubber total value 7s 6d from John Bird at Luton on 6 August 1873

8 September 1873

From: 1873 To: 1873

John Bird of Luton, labourer - he lives at 20 Dumfries Street, Luton. On Wednesday 6 August he was mowing in the Dallow Lane, Luton. He left work between 7 and 8pm. He left his scythe and rubber in the field covered over with a little wheat. When he went to work the next morning he missed the scythe. A day or two later he gave information to the police. The scythe produced is the one he lost, also the irons belonging to it. He next saw the scythe at the Luton Lock-up. Edward Harris of Luton, labourer - he lives in Dallow Lane, Luton. Last August Rowley was lodging at William Anderson's next door to him. On 6 August about 9.30pm he was standing at the back of his house when he saw Rowley laying on the ground with a scythe near his garden gate. He spoke to Rowley who didn't answer. He went to call another person. On his return Rowley and the scythe were gone. He later found the scythe lying by the side of the man in the Dallow Lane gardens - the snaith and raile were on the scythe. William Anderson was with him when he found it. William Anderson of Luton, labourer - he lives in Dallow Lane next door to Edward Harris. Rowley was lodging with him. About 6 August he went with Harris to the garden gate of the Dallow Lane gardens. He saw Rowley lying just over the privet hedge. A scythe was on the other side of the hedge near to him. He asked Rowley where he got the scythe from. Rowley said "It isn't mine, it's White's", took the scythe and said he would take it back. Later that evening Rowley said he had taken it part of the way back. Rowley went away before the next morning and he had not seen him since. John White of Luton, labourer - he lives at 4 Elizabeth Street, Luton. On 6 August Rowley came to him with a scythe. They agreed to go away to work and went away together on 7 August. At a place called Little Offley Rowley left the scythe with a man in an field on the road. He had no part of the money Rowley might have sold it for. Thomas Smith of Offley (Herts), labourer - he is a labourer at Flint House, Offley. He saw Rowley coming along the road on 18 August near to his house. Rowley asked if he wanted to buy the scythe. He bought it for 1s 6d, including snaith and iron work. The blade and irons produced are those he bought from Rowley. He took the scythe and irons to William Arnold of Offley, blacksmith, to have it altered. He shouldn't have bought it only Rowley said he was hard up. William Arnold of Offley (Herts), blacksmith - Thomas Smith brought the scythe to him on 12 August. The irons and a scythe blade now produced put on new wood work. He gave the irons produced to PC Lansberry and the blade to Joseph Pebordy Joseph Lansberry of Luton, police constable - from information he received he went to Flint House, Offley on 3 September. He saw Thomas Smith and received the scythe, 2 wedges and grass nail. From what Smith told him he went to Arnold and received from him the two knab irons and knowl ring produced. The same day he apprehended Rowley at Luton and charged him with stealing a scythe, snaith and whetstone at Luton from John Bird. Rowley said he never stole it. George Rowley - has nothing to say.

item

Rowley, George,
Bird, John,
Harris, Edward,
Anderson, William,
White, John,
Smith, Thomas,
Arnold, William,
Lansberry, Joseph,
Anderson, William,
Pebordy, Joseph

LUTON, Luton Dumfries Street, Luton Dallow Lane, Luton Elizabeth Street, Offley, stealing, tools, agricultural implements, agricultural labourer, blacksmith, police constable