QSR1847/3/5/15/a

Depositions and examination - John Dean charged with stealing a chestnut cart filly (value £40) at Leighton Buzzard on 3 July 1846 from John Howlett

1 May 1847

From: 1846 To: 1847

John Howlett of Norton (Suffolk) – he occupies a farm in Norton, Suffolk. On 1 July 1846 he was informed that a chestnut cart filly was missing from a pasture on his farm. He saw a hurdle that leads to a cart way in a wood was thrown down and he traced the trail of the filly through the underwood to the Glebe, then to the railroad where he lost the trail among the marks of other horses. He enquired whether any men on the railroad had left their work and was told a man named John Dean had left on the previous Saturday night. On inquiring at the railroad stable he was informed a bit halter had been taken on Tuesday night from the stable through a hole in the boards. He advertised his loss in the county papers and the Police Gazette. On 11 August he received a letter stating that Mr Bates, police superintendent at Ampthill had got his mare. He went to Ampthill on 12 August and found his mare there. He has since used great exertions to find the prisoner and has spent more than £48 in his efforts. The mare was 3 years old and was worth £45. She was perfectly sound when stolen and in good condition. She did not have any such thing as side bone on either of her feet – he does not know what is meant by this. The mare is not blemished in any way. William Procter of Northall (Bucks) – he occupies a farm at Northall and also at Slapton. On 3 July 1846 he saw Dean at Leighton Buzzard on Fair Day. Dean asked him to buy a chestnut cart mare, 3 or 4 years old. He objected to buying her without a trial. Dean asked £22 for her and took her to his farm at Slapton the next day by appointment. When he got there at 1pm he found Dean there. He did not see the mare tried. He found she was not sound – she had a side bone on one of the fore feet. He refused to buy her but Dean said “give me a bidding, the mare must be worth something”. He bought her for £11 after some haggling. Dean was a stranger but seemed to know him – he has heard Dean was born in the same parish. Dean asked him to buy the bit or halter on the mare but he refused. A few days later he heard a mare had been stolen from Woburn and informed Mr Young the police superintendent there about his purchase of the mare. On 7 August Mr Bates the police superintendent of Ampthill came to his house and claimed the mare. Dean told him his name and said he was living at the Weathercock at Woburn. By a side bone on the foot he means a bone just above the hoof. He was told of this side bone by a horse dealer – he does not much understand the buying of horses. Dean said he had been working on the railroad here, had done his job and had nothing more for the mare to do. James Bates, superintendent of police at Ampthill – in early August 1846 he inquired about stolen mares and as a result went to Mr Procter at Northall and saw the chestnut cart mare which he said he had bought at Leighton from a man named John Dean. When he produced her description in the Police Gazette Procter gave the mare up to him. She was then claimed by Howlett who swore to her before a JP. William Ralph Young, superintendent of police at Woburn – he had Dean in charge for horse stealing last April at Lincoln and asked he knew what he was in custody for. Dean said it was for stealing 6 or 7 horses. Dean said he sold 2 horses and would own to that, but that nobody could prove they were stolen. He said he sold one to Mr Bachelor and one to Mr Procter John Dean – nothing to say.

item

Dean, John,
Howlett, John,
Procter, William,
Bates, James,
Young, William Ralph

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Norton [Suffolk], Northall, AMPTHILL, WOBURN, Slapton [Buckinghamshire], horse theft, horses, railways, farmer, police superintendent, Woburn Sands Weathercock