QSR1856/4/5/8

Depositions of John Ireland, victualler of Luton, James Bushby, police constable of Harlington, John Thorogood, police sergeant of Toddington, James Potton, miller of Luton and Eliza Miler, wife of George of Luton. In the case of William Martin accused of stealing a pony and cart, valued at £14 and a padlock, the value of a shilling.

27 June 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

John Ireland: keeper of the Fox Inn at Luton. William Martin had been lodging with him for a month. About 9am on 21 June he left home, having first turned out his pony into a field adjoining his premises and he left his cart in the yard. The harness was locked in a barn. The keys to the barn and the stable were hung up in the bar. He returned home about 5pm and he met the prisoner driving the horse and cart on the Dunstable Road about 400 yards from his house. The prisoner was beating the pony. He requested he stop but the prisoner refused and moved off towards Dunstable as fast as the pony would go. He returned home and told his wife and then went in search of the prisoner. He traced him to Harlington and went at least 13 miles as the prisoner had gone by the back lanes. He overtook the prisoner just before Harlington and they went into Harlington together. He gave the prisoner into the charge of PC Bushby. The same evening Sergeant Thorogood showed him a padlock and 2 keys which he identified as his property. The prisoner had asked to borrow his pony and cart but he had no agreed. PC James Bushby: on the evening of 21 June he took then prisoner into custody. The prisoner said he did not steal it and was only going to Brickhill with it. The prisoner was very violent and struck him. When he got into the cart the prisoner tried to throw him out of it. He was obliged to call for assistance or he would have escaped. He searched the prisoner and found a padlock and 2 keys in his pocket. Sergeant John Thorogood: on 21 June he received the prisoner into custody from PC Bushby, with the padlock and 2 keys. He showed them to the prosecutor who identified them as his property. He asked the prisoner if he knew what he was charged with and the prisoner replied it was something about a horse and cart. The prisoner said he had forgotten to take the padlock and keys from his pocket before he left. Statement of the accused: he had asked if he might have the pony and cart and Ireland had agreed. He was going to Brickhill with it to meet his father. His father lived at Old Bradwell. He mentioned it to Mr Ireland several times that he was going on Sunday and was going to stop at Harlington all night. He had no thought of stealing the pony and cart.

item

Martin, William,
Ireland, John,
Bushby, James,
Thorogood, John,
Potton, James,
Miller, Eliza

LUTON, HARLINGTON, TODDINGTON, stealing, horse, cart, Luton Fox, Dunstable Road