QSR1888/3/5/3

Depositions of Edward Wilson Goodcliffe, police constable of Kempston, Maria Mortimer, wife of Henry a baker of Spring Road, Kempston and John Winskill, journeyman butcher of St John Street, Bedford. In the case of Elizabeth Steers accused of receiving stolen beef.

12 May 1888

From: 1888 To: 1888

PC Edward Wilson Goodcliffe: from information received on 29 April he went to Mr Henry Mortimer’s in Spring Road and saw Mrs Mortimer. In consequence of what she said he went to Mrs Steers who lived in New Spring Road. He told Mrs Steers that Mrs Mortimer had a piece of beef stolen from her bakehouse and asked if he could search her back premises. He commenced a search and found the beef on a shelf in the back house amongst some rubbish. Mrs Steers said she knew nothing of the beef. She later said she had bought it at Bedford Market. She could not recall which stall she had bought it from. Maria Mortimer: wife of Henry, living in Spring Road, Kempston. On 29 April she sent for PC Goodcliffe and he came back with some beef. The police constable asked if it was her beef. She confirmed it was the same meat she had missed. Mrs Steers said she bought it at the market. John Winskill: employed by Mr Brown, a butcher of St John’s Street. Mrs Mortimer was a customer and on 28 April he took a rolled rib of beef to her and left it in the bakehouse. He saw Mrs Alfred Streers in the bakehouse. Statement of the accused: “well I only ask the bench, I wish gentlemen if you will be so kind as to look over it. I have only one boy, I will look better after him and send him to Bedford schools.”

4 pages

item

Steers, Elizabeth,
Goodcliffe, Edward Wilson,
Mortimer, Maria,
Winskill, John

KEMPSTON, receiving stolen goods, beef, butchers, bakers, Kempston Spring Road