QSR1847/1/5/21

Depositions and examination - John Jabez Hart, charged with stealing 4 1/2 lbs of pickled pork, value 2s 6d, at Leighton Buzzard on 28 December 1846

29 December 1846

From: 1846 To: 1847

Elizabeth Inns, wife of John Inns of Leighton Buzzard, carrier - she and her husband keep a shop for the sale of pickled pork and a few small articles in grocery. About 11.30am yesterday she was sitting in a room at the back of the shop when she saw the shop door was open. She went into the shop and missed a piece of pickled pork. About 1/2 hour earlier there had been three pieces there. The one now produced is the piece she missed, which she knows because she cut it herself. She went to the door and Thomas Boughton pointed Hart out to her as the person who had just left the shop. Thomas Boughton of Leighton Buzzard, labourer - he is ostler to Mr King at the Black Lion at Leighton Buzzard. He was passing by Mrs Inns’ house at about 11.30 yesterday. Just before he got to the shop Hart came out. Hart had something in his smock frock which he was holding up and ran away towards his father’s house. Mrs Inns came to her door. In consequence of what she said to him he followed Hart and found him at home with his smock frock off. William Pratt who works for Mrs Inns was with him and asked Hart for the piece of pork he had just taken from her shop. Hart said he hadn’t been near her shop. Pratt left and he went for Edwards the policeman. He helped Edwards search the house. He found the piece of pork produced in the ashhole at the back of the house. William Edwards of Leighton Buzzard, police constable - about 11.45am yesterday he went to Hart’s house and asked how he came to steal the pork. Hart said he did not steal it and he was welcome to search the house. Boughton helped him to search. He saw Boughton take the piece of pork out of the ashhole. Hart said he did not know how the piece of pork came to be there, and said “Mrs Inns cannot do anything with me because she cannot swear to the pork”. John Jabez Hart - “I had rather not say anything”.

item

Hart, John Jabez,
Inns, Elizabeth,
Inns, John,
Boughton, Thomas,
Edwards, William,
Pratt, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, pork, meat, carrier, police constable, ostler, grocer, Leighton Buzzard Black Lion