QSR1854/4/5/3

Depositions of Elizabeth Cheney, wife of Henry of Leighton Buzzard and Thomas Worsley, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Thomas Pannell accused of stealing an earthenware pint mug.

9 August 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Elizabeth Cheney: wife of Henry who resided in London and was a servant. She lived with her mother Charlotte Gandy who kept the Boot public house in Leighton. She knew nothing of the prisoner. He was not a regular customer at the house. On the night of Monday 7 August shortly before 11pm he came into the tap room and called for a pint of beer and some tobacco. Her mother served him in her presence. He remained a short time drinking his beer and did not sit down. He paid for his beer and tobacco when he took it. Immediately he had gone she missed the pint mug in which he had been served. She told her mother and subsequently gave the information to the police constable. He mother was a widow and the mug had the value of three pence halfpenny. She would know the mug again as it had a flaw in it. PC Thomas Worsley: he was advised on the theft and given a description of the man. He found the prisoner at the Common lodging house. The prisoner was in bed and the mug was downstairs on a shelf in the kitchen. He took the prisoner into custody and the prisoner said he had taken the mug. Statement of the accused: he took the mug to his lodgings for the purpose of drinking the beer. He left it on a shelf to returning it in the morning. It was common custody at Dunstable where he lived. He had done it at the Royal Oak as well as another house.

item

Pannell, Thomas,
Cheney, Elizabeth,
Worlsey, Thomas,
Cheney, Henry,
Gandy, Charlotte

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, beer, Leighton Buzzard Boot, Leighton Buzzard Royal Oak