QSR1886/2/5/9

Depositions of Joseph Adams, butcher of Girtford, William Watts, labourer of Tempsford and Thomas Woods, police constable stationed at Blunham. In the case of Samuel Browning accused of stealing an 8 1/2 pound piece of beef. Tried at the Biggleswade Petty Session.

20 March 1886

From: 1886 To: 1886

Joseph Adams: a butcher living at Girtford and employed by William Baldry. On 13 March he had been in Tempsford delivering meal with his cart. He stopped about 1.30pm at the Wheatsheaf Inn to have his dinner and left is cart in the yard. About 2.15pm he returned to his cart and missed a piece of beef weighting 8 ½ lbs, which he had cut for Mrs Odell of Blunham. The prisoner had been in the Wheatsheaf when Adams went in and left whilst Adams was still inside. He advised the police and the same night he was brought the beef by PC Woods. William Watts: a labourer living at Tempsford. On 13 March he was working o the road about 2.30pm when he saw the prisoner leaving the Wheatsheaf public house and go towards his house. The prisoner was carrying a bag on his shoulder. Thomas Woods: a police constable stationed at Blunham. On 13 March, he went in the search of the prisoner, who he found at the White Hart beerhouse in Tempsford about 8.30pm. He told the prisoner he wished to speak to him outside. He advised the prisoner of the charge and the prisoner denied having any beef. Woods told him he had been seen leaving the public house with a bag, Browning said it had contained wood. Woods told the defendant he was going to his house to search for the beef and the defendant replied he would join him when he was ready and returned into the beerhouse. Woods went to Browning’s house where he was shown the beef by the prisoner’s wife. He took possession of the beef and went in search of the prisoner, who he found hiding in the hedge opposite his house. He took Browning into custody. Statement of the accused: he did not steal it but found it on the ground. Summary of conviction: sentenced by the Bigglewade Petty Session to be imprisoned at Her Majesty’s Prison at Bedford for 2 calendar months.

8 pages

item

Browning, Samuel,
Adams, Joseph,
Watts, William,
Woods, Thomas

TEMPSFORD, Girtford, BIGGLESWADE, stealing, beef