QSR1854/4/5/8

Depositions of Thomas Barnes, butcher of Southill and Reuben Pepper, police constable of Shefford. In the case of Robert Dilley accused of attempting and endeavouring to steal 10 pound weight of beef.

18 August 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Thomas Barnes: on 14 April about 10pm he went into his yard and heard a noise in his shop, which opened into the yard. As he went towards the door, someone jumped off the loft which had a hole communicating with the shop and ran away. Barnes had a lantern in his hand and he could see it was Robert Dilley. He called for Dilley to stop and ran after him, caught him and took him back to the house. He looked in the shop but did not miss anything and so let Dilley go. The next morning on going to the shop he saw a side of beef, which had been hanging up had been cut about in a great many places and it appeared as if some person had been trying to eat off a portion. The prisoner belonged to the parish of Southill and was at the time shepherd to Mr Haywood but had since absented himself. PC Reuben Pepper: on 17 August he apprehended the prisoner on the charge of attempting to steal Mr Barnes beef. On being told the charge he said he had tried to take it and thought Mr Barnes would not prosecute him. Statement of the accused: he did not deny he was at fault.

item

Dilley, Robert,
Barnes, Thomas,
Pepper, Reuben

SHEFFORD, SOUTHILL, butcher, stealing, beef