QSR1854/4/5/10

Depositions of George Sinfield, gardener of Maulden, George Cave, labourer of Kempston and George Cheney, police constable of Kempston. In the case of Jesse Payne accused of stealing a donkey.

1 September 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

George Sinfield: a gardener and dealer residing in the parish of Maulden. On 22 August, Jesse Payne came to his house and asked to let him have the donkey for 8 pence a day. Sinfield let him have the donkey that day and Payne said he would be home that night. He did not see Payne again until 26 August. When he saw Payne, Payne said the donkey was out feeding on the road and that he would pay him for the donkey [?] month. The prisoner then told him that it did not signify his [?] the donkey and he would bring the donkey to his house that night. He saw nothing more of the prisoner until they met in Maulden on 31 August. The prisoner said, without Sinfield saying anything, that he had sold the donkey and had spent the money. Payne hoped Sinfield would say nothing of it and he would hack for him to back it out. Sinfield said he should not allow him to hack it but if he had any [?] then he would have it. Sinfield then went to ask Mr Bates, the superintendent of police to assist in finding his donkey. The donkey shown to him by sergeant Cheney was his donkey and the same he had lent Jesse Payne. George Cave: on 22 August he saw a donkey feeding by the side of the road. The prisoner was with it. He asked the prisoner if he would sell the donkey and offered 15 shillings. The prisoner said he would not take that as he had paid 21 shillings and so they agreed a price of 22 shillings. He paid the money at the Quart Pot public house. On 31 August he was at track in Mr L[?] garden when Mr Bates came and asked about the donkey. Bates asked if he had bought a donkey and where it was. He said it was out to graze and he had not seen it since. Bates asked him to find the donkey as it belonged to another person. George Cheney: a police sergeant stationed at Kempston. On 31 August he was advised by Superintendent Bates that a donkey had been sold to George Cave and he was to find it and bring it to him. He found the donkey in the possession of George Cave and Cave gave the donkey up to him. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Payne, Jesse,
Sinfield, George,
Cave, George,
Cheney, George

MAULDEN, KEMPSTON, stealing, donkeys, gardener