QSR1844/4/5/18-19

Depositions and examination - Thomas Hollick and Aaron Sinfield, charged with stealing one bay geldig value £12 from Richard Oliver, James Oliver, Elizabeth Oliver and Sophia Oliver at Ridgemont on 4 October 1844

4 October 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

Richard Oliver of Westoning, farmer – he and his brother James Oliver and his two sisters Elizabeth Oliver and Sophia Oliver are the joint owners of certain colts and a bay gelding which were all lying together in two fields in their occupation, one in Westoning called the North Field and the other in Tingrith called the Moors. He saw them all safe in the North field yesterday morning. This morning (October 4) Robert Henry Taylor the police constable came to his house with the bay gelding which he said he had taken from the prisoner. He had not missed the gelding before then. Robert Henry Taylor of Ridgemont, police constable – between 3 and 4am that morning Sinfield came to his house in Ridgemont and told him that “a man was gone down the Salford Road with a horse which he had stolen from Westoning Moor”. He asked how he knew. Sinfield said “I was with him and whilst he was gone down the Moors to fetch the horse up I called up a man who lived at a cottage near the Moors and I stated to him what Hollick was going to do and that the man said he would not have anything to do with it”. Sinfield then described that road he and Sinfield came with the horse from where it was stolen to Ridgmont. He then went along the Salford Road for about ¼ mile when he saw Hollick on the road side sitting on a bay gelding. He went up to him and told him he was a policeman and believed Hollick had stolen the horse. He took possession of the horse and took Hollick into custody. Mr Oliver identified the horse as his. Hollock said he was waiting for Sinfield to go with him to Northampton to sell the horse. Hollick said he was caught in the act and there was no use denying it. Hollick also said that Sinfield persuaded him to do it and that he was a pretty fellow to go to the police. Sinfield did not go with him to Hollick but said he would follow. Sinfield did not follow him that he knows of. He brought Hollick to Woburn and went in search of Sinfield. He found him at a public house in Ridgmont. Sinfield said that Hollick persuaded him to go with him to steal the horse and get some money, and that Hollick had spent his money at a public house yesterday. James Wild of Woburn, police constable – Sinfield was in his custody that moring. He did not ask any questions or induce him to speak. Sinfield said he and Hollick were drinking at Hindes at Westoning and that Hollick asked him if he would go with him to steal a horse. They left together and went to get the horse. Sinfield said he went with Hollick to catch it. Hollick had to let it go again while he went home to get some string. Sinfield stood by. Sinfield also said he called up a man a few doors from Hollick’s and told him what Hollick was about to do. After Hollick had got the string they both went and caught the horse on the Moors and Sinfield laughed at Hollick for getting in the water. Sinfield said he induced Hollick to come that way to Ridgmont as he knew where the policeman lived who he wanted to tell. Thomas Hollick – he has nothing to say. He is guilty. Sinfield never left him to go and call anybody up. Sinfield did call King up – he said he would borrow a shilling from him to help them on the road. They had several pints of beer together. He bought some combs from Sinfield. He gave 6d for 6 pair. Aaron Sinfield – he is not guilty. If he had wanted to do such a thing he would not have called the man up. They had no string. Hollick went home for a string and he went and called up the man - he does not know his name, he lives up the lane going to Mr Oliver’s. The man did not seem as if he would come out. He thought he’d go and see what Hollick did. Hollick caught it and put a string round it. As they were going toward Ridgmont he went to William King’s, called him up and told him a man had stolen a horse and he wanted him to come and stop him. King said he would have a good deal of trouble and would not get up. King told him to go on to Ridgmont or Woburn and find a policeman. He told the policeman at Ridgmont. He comes from Maulden. He carries a basket. He was not drinking with Hollick at the public house. Hollick came out of the house with him as he was going home and persuaded him to go with him to steal a horse. He thought it best to go as he would know all about it. He had no conversation with Hollick in the public house. He was at two public houses with Hollick in the afternoon.

item

Hollick, Thomas,
Sinfield, Aaron,
Oliver, Richard,
Oliver, James,
Oliver, Elizabeth,
Oliver, Sophia,
Taylor, Robert Henry,
Wild, James

RIDGMONT, WESTONING, WOBURN, TINGRITH, Westoning fields, Tingrith fields, horse theft, horses, farmer, police constable