QSR1855/1/5/25

Depositions of John Clarke, farmer of Luton, John Armstrong, shepherd of Luton, George Smith, police constable of Luton and William Cooper, victualler of Luton. In the case of John Smith, accused of stealing 4 hurdles.

18 December 1854

From: 1854 To: 1855

John Armstrong: a shepherd to Mr John Clark. On 4 December he saw his master’s hurdles safe on Saint Anne’s Hill in Luton. The following morning he missed 4 of them and 3 or 4 stakes. There were 2 new hurdles and 2 old ones missing. On 8 December he saw 7 hurdles in William Cooper’s garden and they were in his fence adjoining the road. He knew them to be his master’s hurdles. He knew the old hurdles because he had mended them. He went and told his master what he had seen and went with his master to William Cooper’s house. His master asked Cooper where he had the hurdles from and Cooper said he had them from John Smith. Cooper said Smith told him he knew where there were some 2 or 3 miles off and he would bring him some. His master told him to take the hurdles home and put them in the barn. He did so. John Clark: he was a farmer at Luton. On 8 December in consequence of what his shepherd had told him, he went to William Cooper’s house. He saw the hurdles in the garden and asked Cooper where he got them. Cooper said he had them from John Smith and said Smith he told him he knew of some hurdles which had been standing sometime and he would fetch them. The shepherd pointed out the 4 hurdles which were his property and he told the shepherd to take them home and put them in the barn. George Smith: on 10 December he went to Mr Cooper’s house with Mr Godfrey, the superintendent. Mr Godfrey asked him how he had come by the hurdles and he said he had them from Jack Smith. He had told Smith to go and buy some but Smith said he knew where there were some and he would get them. Cooper said that at first he did not give anything for them but afterwards he said Smith owed him some beer and he had rubbed the chalk off and marked it as square. William Cooper: on 30 November he told John Smith they must get something to back up the lettuces against the wind. He said he had spoken to Elias Conquest for some old hurdles and Smith said he had no need to call there as he knew of some old hurdles but they were a mile or mile and half away. He said they were no use for anything except the fire. Smith said he would get the hurdles. Cooper said in that case he would not trouble himself if Smith could get them. On 5 December he saw some hurdles standing in the shed. Smith was in the yard and said he had brought the hurdles. Smith followed him into the house and had a pint of beer and some breakfast. He told Smith to go and fix the hurdles, which he did and then Smith took another pint of beer and his dinner. He asked Smith how much for the hurdles and Smith said what he liked. Smith’s score stood on the cellar door. It was a shilling and sixpence plus his beer, breakfast and dinner. Cooper thought this would be sufficient for the hurdles. The following Friday Mr Clark and his shepherd called and claimed the hurdles as his property. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Smith, John,
Clarke, John,
Armstrong, John,
Smith, George,
Cooper, William

LUTON, stealing, victualler, shepherd, farmer