QSR1855/3/5/24-25

Depositions of Thomas Roberts, straw dealer of Langford, Joseph Dunton, labourer of Southill, Daniel Garner, victualler of Southill, Fanny Hare, wife of Charles, keeper of the Crown public house and Reuben Pepper, police constable of Shefford. In the cases of John Smith, labourer of Shefford, accused of stealing certain money and Henry Huckle, labourer of Shefford, accused of receiving certain money from John Smith, knowing that it was stolen.

21 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Thomas Roberts: On 18 May he was in the Crown public house at Shefford with his brother. The prisoner, John Smith, came in and begged alms. The prisoner came and sat by him and drank out of his pot. After the prisoner had been there about an hour, Roberts dropped off to sleep and on waking found his purse gone. Just before he had gone to sleep he had occasion to pull out his purse and he had put a sovereign on the table. He returned the purse to the left hand pocket of his breeches. The prisoner sat close to him on his left hand side. There were a further 2 or 3 shillings in the purse in silver. From information he received he went to the Black Horse at Southill in search of the prisoner, Smith. His brother, Charles Roberts, was with him. Just as they got to the door the prisoner came out and they collared him and sent for the policeman. When he had got to the Black Horse he saw the prisoner, Henry Huckle, and when the policeman arrived Huckle came up to him and said that if he did not hurt him he would show him where the money was. Huckle went out and Roberts followed him to a heap of dung. Huckle pulled out a quantity of silver and copper money. It was handed over to Bray and then to Pepper without it being counted. Bray had been in the Crown at Shefford at the same time as the prisoner, Smith and afterwards had gone with Roberts to the Black Horse. Joseph Dunton: on the evening of 18 May he went into the Black Horse public house at Southill. The prisoners were both in the house when he went in. After they had been there about an hour, William Bray came in and after a few minutes the prisoner Smith went out. He had occasion to go out immediately after and then he saw Smith in the custody of Roberts and his brother. When Smith was brought back into the house he sat near the prisoner Huckle. Shortly afterwards he saw Smith take his hand out of his own pockets and them put it behind his back and Huckle put his hand behind Smith’s back so their hand met. He saw nothing pass. Soon after Huckle went outside and remained there a few minutes. Daniel Garner: keeper of the Black Horse at Ireland in the parish of Southill. He recollected Smith coming into the house on 18 May and calling for a pint of beer. Smith paid with a sovereign and was handed the change. Smith later purchased some more beer and 2 pounds of beef steaks. Altogether Smith spent 3 to 4 shillings. When Huckle and Roberts went out to fetch the money he also went to hold a light and saw Huckle pick up a quantity of silver and copper from the dung heap. PC Reuben Pepper: on 18 May he went to the Black Horse and Smith was given into his custody. In consequence of what he heard he told the prisoner Huckle he would like him too. Soon after he saw Huckle talking to Roberts and they left the house together with Garner. He followed and saw Huckle pick up some silver and copper from the dung heap and hand it to Roberts, who passed it to Bray, who gave it to him. There were 18 shillings and sixpence in silver and 7 pence in copper. Statement of the accused: John Smith – he did not want to say anything. Henry Huckle – he had nothing to say. Fanny Hare [statement taken after the prisoners were commited]: wife to Charles Hare, keeper of the Crown public house in Shefford. On 18 May, market day, Thomas Roberts and Charles Roberts were in the house. The prisoner came in and begged. About 6 or 7pm Thomas Roberts put a sovereign and a few shillings into his purse and put it into his left hand breeches pocket. The prisoner sat next to him on that same side. There was no other prisoner in the house at the time. Both Roberts fell asleep. Thomas Roberts had his hands in his breeches pockets and she saw Smith take hold of him, shake him and pull his left hand out of his pockets. She told him to leave Roberts alone and let him sleep. The prisoner soon hurried away. Nobody came into the house between Roberts falling asleep and waking again.

item

Smith, John,
Huckle, Henry,
Roberts, Thomas,
Dunton, Joseph,
Garner, Daniel,
Pepper, Samuel,
Hare, Fanny,
Hare, Charles

SHEFFORD, LANGFORD, SOUTHILL, straw dealer, victualler, stealing, money, receiving stolen goods, Shefford Crown, Ireland Black Horse