QSR1884/4/5/4-5

Depositions of William Butcher, labourer of Leighton Buzzard, Thomas George, labourer of Leighton Buzzard, Thomas Ruffhead, police constable of Leighton Buzzard, George William Olney, butcher of Stanbridge and John Olden, police sergeant of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of James Sinfield and William Sinfield accused of stealing 35 pounds in weight of beef.

12 August 1884

From: 1884 To: 1884

William Butcher: on the evening of 12 April he was at the Cross Keys in Leighton Buzzard. James Sinfield was with him. They left the Cross Keys at 10.30pm and Sinfield went towards Hockcliffe Street, whilst he stopped to talk to a young woman in front of the Cross Keys. Whilst he was standing there, William Sinfield called him over. William Sinfield told him there was some meat at the market house and asked him to go with him. They went together. They lifted the meat off the hook but it was too large to carry without being seen so Sinfield asked him to lend him his overcoat which Sinfield put on and put the meat under it. They went down the Hockcliffe road together, with Sinfield carrying the meat. They rested at Chapel Yard because they saw Mt Shepherd coming, and then went on to Sandy Lane where they rested again. Between Chapel yard and Sandy Lane they saw PC Ruffhead, who wished them a good night. They went on to William Sinfield’s home and Sinfield put the meat in a sack. Sinfield went upstairs and he saw no more of him that night. James Sinfield was sat in a chair downstairs. After William had gone upstairs James got a knife and cut a piece of meat off. Butcher wrapped it in a handkerchief. Sinfield fetched a chopper and cut the rest of the meat up. Butcher put a piece of meat in bag and then left the house with the bag and the meat in it. As soon as Butcher got out of the house he threw the bag and piece of meat away and soon after meet Sergeant Olden and PC Ruffhead. They took hi into custody on the charge of stealing a pot of marmalade. When searched he gave up the piece of meat in the handkerchief. He was charge with stealing the meat and on 22 April he was convicted before the Leighton Buzzard bench and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment. He was not prosecuted for stealing the marmalade and had now been out of prison for 3 weeks. After coming out of prisoner he met PC Southam in the street and he told him the superintendent wanted to see him. He went to Superintendent Shepherd and they had a conversation Butcher could not repeat. He confessed to the crime so that they all might be punished and did not expect proceedings to be taken about the marmalade. Thomas George: on 12 April he was at the Cross Keys when James Sinfield and William Butcher came in. They were still in the tap room when he left. On returning later Butcher was in the parlour but he could not say if Sinfield was there. Thomas Ruffhead: he was in duty on 12 April in Leighton Buzzard. On gone down Hockcliffe Road he met William Sinfield and William Butcher going in the direction of Sinfield’s house. He did not notice how they were dressed. Superintendent Shepherd had gone down the street a little distance ahead. Shortly afterwards he received information of marmalade being stolen from Mr Broom’s. In consequence he and Sergeant Olden stationed themselves at the top of Vandyke Road and waited for Butcher. About midnight Butcher came from Sinfield’s house and he was taken into custody on the charge of stealing marmalade. On searching him he found raw meat in his pocket but no marmalade. They went to Sinfield’s house and were admitted by his mother and searched the house. In the back of the house they found 4 or 5 pieces of beef tied up in cloth. He took charge of the beef. Next day he saw Mr Olney at the market house and Olney showed him where a rump of beef belonging to him had been taken. John Olden: a police sergeant stationed in Leighton Buzzard. On 12 April he went with PC Ruffhead in search of the prisoner. Butcher came from Sinfield’s house and was taken to the police station and searched. Some meat was found I his pocket wrapped in a handkerchief. They went to search Sinfield’s house and was present when Ruffhead found the meat under some soot sacks. William Olney: a butcher living at Stanbridge. On 12 April he had a stall of meat at Leighton market. Wheat he did not sell was put into Market house. Among the pieces was a piece of beef rump. Its value was about 25 shillings. Next day he went with PC Ruffhead to the market house and found the beef gone. He believed the meats shown to him by Ruffhead to be the same meat. Statement of the accused: reserved their defence.

12 pages

item

Sinfield, James,
Sinfield, William,
Butcher, William,
George, Thomas,
Ruffhead, Thomas,
Olney, George William,
Olden, John

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, beef, Leighton Buzzard Market