QSR1854/1/5/11

Depositions of Thomas Sinfield, labourer of Maulden, James Chesher, pig dealer of Houghton Conquest and PC James Worsley, stationed at Clophill. In the case of Benjamin Crawley accused of stealing a drab overcoat.

24 November 1853

From: 1853 To: 1854

Thomas Sinfield: a labourer living at Maulden. On the night of 17 November he hung a drab overcoat in his master’s stable at Maulden and on 19 November he missed it. He advised PC Worsley. The coat was worth 10 shillings. James Chesher: a pig dealer of Houghton Conquest. He knew the prisoner and he saw him at Mr S(?) at Hawnes and he offered to sell Chesher a coat. They agreed on 2 shillings and Chesher wore the coat for 2 days. PC James Worsley: from information received he went to the pig market at Bedford on 21 November and asked Chesher if he had bought a coat from Benjamin Crawley. Chesher said he had and refused to give the coat up when asked. On the threat of being taken into custody, Chesher gave up the coat which had lain on his cart. Chesher said he had given 2 shillings for the coat. Worsley then apprehended the prisoner who said he had sold the coat to Chesher and had told him he should cut off the button and not to pawn the coat. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Crawley, Benjamin,
Sinfield, Thomas,
Chesher, James,
Worsley, James

CLOPHILL, MAULDEN, HOUGHTON CONQUEST, stealing, coat, pig dealer