QSR1857/4/5/8a

Depositions of Richard Dowdeswell, general dealer of Maulden, Samuel Richardson, labourer of Maulden, Samuel Hebbs, labourer of Hawnes and James Bates, superintendent of police for the Ampthill division. In the case of George Stokes accused of stealing a grey mare.

24 September 1857

From: 1857 To: 1857

Richard Dowdeswell: the prisoner lived in Maulden. On 17 September he sent his grey mare into one of Mr Woodham’s fields at Hawnes. On the same afternoon he went to Marston and next day heard the mare was missing from the field. He went to the field and the mare was gone. He informed the police of his loss. On 19 September he saw the mare in the custody of Superintendent Bates. The mare was the one he had lost. The value of the mare was £8. It was an old mare. Samuel Richardson: he worked for Mr Woodham at Hawnes. On the afternoon of 17 September he was stone picking in one of Mr Woodham’s fields at Hawnes West End. He saw the prisoner in the field with a saddle and bridle. Stokes put them on Dowdeswell’s mare and rode out of the field. He saw no more of him. Prior to this the prisoner asked him if there was an old brown mare in the field. He replied the mare in the field was grey and the other had been fetched out that morning. Samuel Hebbs: a foreman to the brickmakers at Hawnes Kiln and lived there. On the evening of 17 September he was going down the road towards Wilshamstead and heard someone whistle. He turned back and saw George Stokes leading a grey mare. He said she was knocked up and preceded in the direction of Wilshamstead. Stokes asked him for a horse and said he was going to Bedford. He said he could not. Stokes asked him if he could put the mare in his close and he told him he might. He took off the bridle and saddle and turned the mare into the close where she remained until Superintendent Bates came to enquire about the mare. The prisoner said he was going to Bedford to get some leather and that he would be back that night or the following morning. That was why he wanted to borrow a horse. Superintendent James Bates: he was advised by the prosecutor on 18 September of the loss of his horse. He made some enquiries and went to Hawnes Kiln and took charge of the grey mare left there by George Stokes. He went in pursuit of the prisoner to Bedford, and found him and took him into custody. The prisoner had a pair of spurs on. He asked the prisoner what he had done with the grey mare and the prisoner said he had left her somewhere not far from Maulden and that she was at the brick kiln. He showed the grey mare to the prosecutor who identified her as his property. Statement of the accused: Richard Dodeswell had told his brother that if at any time they wanted a horse they might have one. He had the grey mare for 3 days to go to the Plough. His brother said if Dowdeswell wanted his horse he might have it. He would not have taken it without orders.

item

Stokes, George,
Dowdeswell, Richard,
Richardson, Samuel,
Hebbs, Samuel,
Bates, James

MAULDEN, Hawnes, stealing animals, horses, general dealer, foreman