QSR1879/2/5/3-7/h

Depositions and examinations - Frederick Smith and Thomas Read, charged with stealing two neckcloths value 5s from James Webb at Leighton Buzzard on 14 January 1879

31 January 1879

From: 1879 To: 1879

James Webb of Leighton, tailor – his shop is in the High Street. On 14 January he had 3 cashmere neckerchiefs hanging on a brass rod in his shop. They were pinned on. That evening he missed two of them. They were of different patter, one smaller and one large. He believes the on produced to be one of those he lost. The other one had figures of horses on it. Thomas Ruffhead, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard – on 22 January from information received he went to Smith’s house and searched it. He found the neckerchief produced on the person of Mary Ann Smith, the step-mother of Frederick Smith and took Smith into custody. Smith denied stealing anything. On Monday 27 January while he was in charge of both the prisoners at the police station Smith said in Read’s presence “I went into Webb’s shop and took two neck cloths from the window, one a spotted one, the other with either horse or dogs heads on. Read watched while I went in the shop and when I got outside I gave the spotted one to Read. The other one I gave to our Will” (meaning, he supposes, Smith’s brother William). Read said “The one you gave me I gave to your mother, if she is your mother. I knowed it would not do for me to take anything home. Frederick Smith and Thomas Read – have nothing to say.

item

Read, Thomas,
Smith, Frederick,
Webb, James,
Ruffhead, Thomas,
Smith, Mary Ann,
Smith, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, clothing