QSR1844/1/5/1

Depositions and examination - John Francis charged wtih stealing a bundle of wheat straw

23 October 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

John Brett of Luton, farmer – on Tuesday 18 July 1843 Superintendent Ashton came to his house and asked if he had lost any straw. He said he did not know that he had. Ashton told him John Francis, who worked for him, was met by three persons with a bundle of straw between his house and Luton town. A few days later Ashton showed him a bundle of wheat straw which he can swear belongs to him. His straw is a mixture of red and white wheat. William Wright of Luton – on Monday 17 July between 7 and 9am he was in the road leading from Luton to Barton with William Clarke and saw Francis carrying a bundle of wheat straw. Francis put it down on the road, then took it up and walked away. He went into the Dukes Head in Luton, kept by James Harris, a little after and saw Francis there smoking a pipe in the kitchen and a bundle of straw lying on the cellar window. It was the same bundle he had seen Francis with. Sarah Harris – her husband keeps the Dukes Head Public House. On Monday morning Francis came into their house and asked her to let him leave a bundle of straw until the evening, which she said he might do. A day or two later Supt. Ashton fetched the straw from their house. William Ashton of Luton, superintendent of police – from information received he fetched a bundle of wheat straw from the Dukes Head. He took it to John Brett who said he could swear it belonged to him. Francis left Luton last July. On Saturday 21 October he took Francis into custody. John Francis – he picked up the bundle of straw at the bottom of Fox Hill. There was some corn and chaff in a bit of a sack along with it. A man went down the hill with him with a horse and cart. The man had the corn and chaff and he took the straw and carried it into Mr Brett’s little meadow and laid it in the ditch. This was about 4.30am.

item

Francis, John,
Brett, John,
Wright, William,
Harris, James,
Harris, Sarah,
Ashton, William

LUTON, Luton Fox Hill, stealing, straw, farmer, wheat, publican, Luton Dukes Head