QSR1856/3/5/1

Depositions of John Wingrove, dairyman of London Fields, Hackney, Edward Secret, a cattle dealer of Chelsea in the parish of Linslade, William Ralph Young, superintendent of police and Robert Evans Roberts, governor of Bedford Gaol. In the case of Thomas Taylor, alias Joseph Lovett accused of stealing a horse.

11 April 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

John Wingrove: resided in London Lane, London Fields, Hackney, Middlesex. On 1 April he had a chestnut horse and saw it about 2pm in London Fields. He missed it about 8am the next morning and saw nothing of it until 9 April when he saw the horse at Leighton Buzzard, in the custody of the police. He knew the horse immediately. Its value was £11. Edward Secret: the prisoner was a stranger to him. On 2 April he met him in the Kings Arms public house at Leighton. The prisoner was about to sell a horse to the landlord. He went out with the parties to look at the horse and the landlord refused to buy the horse as it was broken winded. The prisoner said he should sell it subsequently sold it for 50 shillings to Secret. He paid the money and his man took the horse away. He asked the prisoner his name and he said it was Taylor. Taylor said the horse had been employed drawing a stocking frame but said he had met with misfortune and had sold the frame in Surrey and was going to take the horse to Nottingham. Taylor said he was now short of money and so sold the horse. He left the horse at the Raven in Leighton .He gave the information to the police after he found the prisoner had not gone to Nottingham but had immediately left for London. Superintendent William Ralph Young: the prisoner was brought to Woburn lock-up on 3 April. The prisoner said he had been looking in a shop window at Holburn Hill in London and a man had come to him and given him the horse to take into the country to sell. He asked the prisoner if he knew the man and he said he did not but was to meet him at Euston station. Robert Evan Roberts: the governor of Bedford Gaol. On 5 April the prisoner was in his custody and applied to see him. The prisoner brought to his office and advised him of what he was accused of. The prisoner was about to make a statement so he cautioned him. The prisoner said he wished to state that the name he had given was false. He said his name was Joseph Lovett and that he belonged to Nottingham but had resided in London for 9 years. The prisoner said he had not been in gaol before and now wished to tell the truth about what had happened. The prisoner said he took the horse form London Fields on the night of 1 April and made his way to Bedfordshire. The statement was put in writing and the prisoner signed it. The prisoner said he was very sorry. Statement of the accused: he had been out of work for a great while and was obliged to sell his furniture to live upon. He then sold his tools and could get no work. He was badly off and walked about for weeks. He thought if he could get a little money he might be able to get his tools and go to work. He was very sorry for it.

item

Taylor, Thomas,
Wingrove, John,
Secret, Edward,
Young, William Ralph,
Roberts, Robert Evan

Hackney, LINSLADE, stealing animals, horse, cattle dealer, dairyman, prison governors, Leighton Buzzard Kings Arms