QSR1858/1/5/5a

Depositions of Benjamin Janes, blacksmith of Totternhoe, John Deacon, marine store dealer of Leighton Buzzard, William Pratt, farmer of Totternhoe and John Lambert, police constable of Totternhoe. In the case of John Cook accused of stealing a quantity of old iron.

21 December 1857

From: 1857 To: 1858

Benjamin Janes: in consequence of information received he examined the iron in the shop and missed part of a plough. The horse shoes he believed to be his property and the winch part of the plough he could swear to be his property. He knew the prisoner as he lived at Totternhoe and it was not worth more than a shilling. John Deacon: in the morning of 8 December the prisoner came to his house and asked if he bought old iron. He said he did and the prisoner produced iron. It weighed 34 pounds and he asked him if it was alright and the prisoner replied it was. He bought it for 10 pence. On the same day the PC came to his house and asked him if he had bought any iron. The policeman fetched the iron away. William Pratt: he knew the prisoner and saw him at Leighton market on 8 December. He had something heavy in a bag. He saw the prisoner go up the town, with the bag, in the direction of Deacon’s shop. PC John Lambert: received the old iron from Deacon and took the prisoner into custody the next day. He charged him with stealing the iron but Cook said he knew nothing about it. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Cook, John,
Janes, Benjamin,
Deacon, John,
Pratt, William,
Lambert, John

TOTTERNHOE, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, iron, farmer, blacksmith, marine store dealer