QSR1878/2/5/1

Depositions and examination - John Scott charged with receiving 2 bushels of beans and half a strike of bran from Samuel Sinfield at Luton on 9 April 1878 knowing them to have been stolen.

13 March 1878

From: 1878 To: 1878

George Noah Gathard of Church Street, Luton – he is a boxmaker and has employed Sinfield for about 9 weeks to look after the horses. On Saturday 9 March 1878 about 7am PC Butcher called him and showed him a sack with beans and bran in it. He identified the bag. He dealt with Mr Seabrook, a corn dealer at Luton, until the end of January. He told Sinfield not to go again with further orders. He has been dealing with Mr Drewitt. He has received a bill from Mr Seabrook of 2 bushels of beans on 22 February (value 8s), ½ bushel of best beans on 28 February (2s 3d), ½ bushel of best beans on 1 March (2s 3d) and 2 bushels of beans and ½ strike of bran on 8 March (value 8s 6d). He had not given Sinfield any orders to get those nor has he seen them. The bag produced containing beans and bran belongs to him. Charles Washington Seabrook of Market Hill, Luton, corndealer – he knows Sinfield as a servant of Mr Gathard’s. Sinfield has come to his shop from time to time for corn for his master. The bill produced is right. He knows Sinfield fetched the goods marked down on 8 March at about 5.30. The bag produced is the one Sinfield left. He put the beans and bran in while Sinfield held it open. He gave Sinfield a ticket and Sinfield said he was going to take it down to Ward’s Yard, Church Street where his master kept a horse. On 9 March Sinfield came about 8am and asked for a fresh ticket, saying he had lost the other. He asked how it was lost – Sinfield said he had put it in between some trees and the bobbies had taken it. He refused to give Sinfield another ticket. [Depositions of Ann Scott and Minnie Scott, wife and daughter of John Scott of Hitchin Road Luton deleted] John Garner of Luton Police Station, police constable – Scott and Sinfield were brought in on Saturday 9 March. On Monday Sinfield wished to see Mr Gathard to ask if he would forgive him as he should not have took it, but Scott had kept bothering him to take it. On 12 March Sinfield said he was would tell the truth about it. On Monday 11th Scott said “I wish to see Mr Gathard to ask him to forgive me as I don’t care what I pay him if he will only make it up”. Samuel Brace of Luton, police inspector – on Friday 8 March he was on duty in Nelson Street, Luton between 6 and 7pm. He found the beans and bran in the sack. He placed a police constable to watch. William Butcher of Luton, police constable – he was put to watch the sack of corn. He hid in some trees. He watched all night until 6.15am on the 9th when he saw Scott walk direct to the sack. Scott tied the sack up, carried it about 20 yards and hid it again under another tree. When he appeared Scott ran away. He ran after him and took him into custody and charged him with stealing the corn. Scott said he did not steal it and said “a man they call Sam works for Mr Gathard called at my house last night and told my wife that there was some corn here for me” [this section has been crossed out]. He later apprehended Sinfield and charged him. Sinfield said the sack was his master’s. He then recharged Scott with receiving stolen goods. Scott said he knew nothing about it. Jabez Horton of Luton, corndealer’s assistant – he is an assistant in Mr Drewitt’s shop, Cheapside, Luton. He knows Sinfield and knew he worked for Mr Gathard. On Monday 4 March Sinfield had one bushel of beans and one strike of bran. Next morning he had another ½ strike. On Thursday 8th he had one bushel of beans and the other ½ strike of bran. John Scott – he reserves his defence.

item

Scott, John,
Sinfield, Samuel,
Gathard, George Noah,
Seabrook, Charles Washington,
Garner, John,
Brace, Samuel,
Butcher, William,
Horton, Jabez,
Scott, Ann,
Scott, Minnie,
Drewitt

LUTON, Luton Church Street, Luton Market Hill, receiving stolen goods, beans, bran, police constable, police inspector, corndealer, boxmaker