QSR1847/2/5/4

Depositions and examination - George Osborn charged wtih stealing a steel rat trap from Henry Eustace

25 March 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

Sarah Eustace of Eaton Bray – on 23 March Thomas King was at work for her husband Henry Eustace at Eaton Bray. In the afternoon Osborn came to King and stayed about their premises for some time. About 6pm she went out to change some money to pay King for his day’s work. When she came back Osborn was gone. She later found some eggs were gone. She told her husband. He said “I’ll lay you a guinea then my rat trap is gone. I saw Osborn looking at it”. She checked in the barn and found the rat trap had gone. The trap was hanging close to the door. That evening PC Thorogood brought Osborn to their house with a steel rat trap she can swear is her husband’s property. It has a chain attached to it with twisted links. She bought the trap herself many years ago. John Thorogood of Eaton Bray, police constable – on Tuesday 23 March her received information that Henry Eustace had lost a rat trap. He suspected Osborn. He found Osborn in a blacksmith’s shop at Eaton Bray. Osborn admitted he had been at Mr Eustace’s but denied seeing a rat trap. He searched Osborn and found the rat trap now produced in his pocket. Osborn then admitted taking it from Eustace’s barn and said he had taken it to catch birds with.

item

Osborn, George,
Eustace, Henry,
Eustace, Sarah,
King, Thomas,
Thorogood, John

EATON BRAY, stealing, police constable