QSR1855/3/5/50

Depositions of Ezra Fletcher, grocer of Houghton Regis, Elizabeth Snoxall, a minor, James Reynolds, parish constable of Houghton Regis and Charles Dale, police constable of Houghton Regis. In the case of Joseph Squire, accused of stealing a piece of pork.

7 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Ezra Flecther: on 30 April he had a piece of pork in his shop. In consequence of something his servant told him, he gave information to the police and shortly afterwards PC Dale brought him a piece of pork. He identified it to be his property by the cut. Elizabeth Snoxall: a servant to Mr Fletcher and sometimes waited on customers in the shop. On 30 April she saw Joseph Squires come into the shop. He bought a penny twist. There was a piece of pork lying on a dish on the counter. Squires was against the counter near the place where the pork was. She turned around to get the twist. On leaving the shop Squires had the twist in his hand and the other hand in his pocket. As soon as he had left the shop she missed the pork. Nobody came into the shop whilst the prisoner was there. She told her master. James Reynolds: parish constable for Houghton Regis. On 30 April the prisoner was in custody about 9pm and he was very sorry for what he had done. Poverty had driven him to it. The prisoner said he had taken about 2 pounds of pork and was very much cut about it. PC Charles Dale: on 30 April he went in search of the prisoner. He found him in a house and told him he suspected him of stealing a piece of pork. The prisoner said “oh dear”. He found in the room where Squire was living the piece of pork. He showed the pork to Mr Fletcher who identified it. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Squire, Joseph,
Fletcher, Ezra,
Snoxall, Elizabeth,
Reynolds, James,
Dale, Charles

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, pork, grocer