QSR1846/4/5/16/b

Depositions and examination - William Brown charged with stealing a blue roan mare, value £30, from Joseph Stevens on 31 July

28 August 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

Joseph Stevens of Land Beach (Cambridge), farmer and victualler – he had a blue roan horse in his possession at Land Beach on 30 July. The next morning he was called up by his man about 4am and found she was missing. He heard of her on the road at Cambridge but lost track of her at St Neots. He saw her again on 5 August in the possession of Supt. Bates at Ampthill. He saw 2 men at his house at Land beach the day before he lost his horse and had some conversation with them about the mare. He believes Brown to be one of them. The other man was about the same height, stouter and middle aged. Both of the men came to the door from the house where they were drinking some beer. They asked if there were any open commons about. They had a hackney saddle with them. They were at his house about ½ hour. He told his man in their hearing to keep the horses in the yard. They did not say what they were doing in the neighbourhood. John Smith of Ampthill, innholder – about 10am on 31 July Brown came to his house at Ampthill bringing with him 2 horses (a blue roan mare and a bay mare) for which he ordered hay. They were put in the stable. He has seen the mare since in Supt Bates’ possession. When the prisoner left his house he asked how far he was going and he said “not far”. He is sure Brown is the same man. He wore a light frock and he thinks leggings and not boots as he has now. John Batchelor of Eggington, farmer and horse dealer – he saw Brown with another man at Leighton Buzzard and had some conversation with his companion about some horses. The man promised to show him one at his house at Eggington. They came the following Friday with two horses. He then knew the companion to be John Dean of Ringshall in the parish of Ivinghoe. Dean said the horses were costing him a good deal of money for keep as he did not have full employment for them. He recommended the blue roan mare to him and he bought it for £11 and a pony. On Monday 3 August he received information that the mare was stolen. Supt Bates claimed her and took her away. Brown was with Dean and stood with the bay mare. Brown did not interfere in the selling. He understood the mare to be one Dean had been working on the railroad. She seemed very much faded and went very stiff. James Bates of Ampthill, police superintendent – on Monday August 2 he received information that 2 mares had been stolen from Land Beach. He made enquiries and found the mare in Mr Batchelor’s possession at Eggington. On 4 August Stevens came and identified the mare as his property. On 6 August he delivered the mare to Mr Stevens at the magistrate’s direction. William Brown – “if I am committed for horse stealing it is a thing I never did do. I shall not say anything more”.

item

Brown, William,
Stevens, Joseph,
Smith, John,
Batchelor, John,
Bates, James

EGGINGTON, Ringshall, Ivinghoe, Landbeach, horse theft, farmer, victualler, innkeeper, horse dealer, police superintendent