QSR1855/3/5/27

Depositions of Richard Howes, farmer of Dunstable and Charles Dale, police constable of Houghton Regis. In the case of John King, accused of stealing a quantity of beans.

28 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Richard Howes: the prisoner was in his employment and on 24 May he asked him to assist in grinding 2 loads of beans. The beans were in the wood house. He took a sample of the beans the same morning. He gave the sample to PC Dale. He had previous suspicion of the prisoner. He had no doubt the bean produced by PC Dale were his property. They corresponded with the sample. PC Charles Dale: on 24 May he was watching on the Howes premises. He saw 2 loads of beans in the wood barn. Mr Howes took a sample of them and gave it to him. Soon after the prisoner, and another man, went there to grind beans. About 1pm the other man left the barn, leaving the prisoner alone. He saw the prisoner take a quantity of beans out of one of the sack and put them in his basket. The prisoner then left the premises and Dale followed and told him he had some beans in his basket which he had stolen. The prisoner said he had nothing in his basket. He took the prisoner into custody. He had been within 5 yards of the prisoner when he took the beans from the sack. The prisoner could not see him. The prisoner was very sorry. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

King, John,
Howes, Richard,
Dale, Charles

DUNSTABLE, HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, beans, farmer