QSR1858/2/5/3a,4

Depositions of Charles Cyril Hicks, surgeon of Dunstable, Albert George Tutte, groom of Dunstable, George Lancaster, labourer of Dunstable, Joseph Hale, innkeeper of Dunstable and Jeremiah Cuttriss, police constable of Dunstable. In the case of George Champkin and Frederick Mead accused of stealing a black mare.

26 March 1858

From: 1858 To: 1858

Charles Cyril Hicks: on the morning of 26 March he saw the prisoner Frederick Mead in the High Street, Dunstable. Mead asked him to let him take his mare to Aylesbury Fair to sell her but he said no. Mead went away. Before he had seen Mead the prisoner Champkin had come to his house to ask him to sell his black horse, as he knew a man at Kensworth that would buy her. He told Champkin the price was 5 guineas and if the man came to him he would give Champkin 5 shillings. Champkin came again the same evening and told him if he went to his stable there was a man who wanted to buy the horse. He went to the stable with Champkin and found Mead there. Mead told Champkin to take the horse from the stable and trot her. Mead then asked the lowest price for the mare. He did not reply but gave Mead liberty to ride her for a short distance and lent him a saddle and bridle. Mead rode away on the mare and he saw no more of his that day. The next day the groom told him that Mead had brought the saddle and bridle back and he told the groom to tell Mead he would have no more to do with him. He then heard Mead tell the boy to come and fetch the mare. His groom returned to him with Champkin who told him that Mead had sold the mare for £4 15s 0d. He said Mead ought not have done so as he had no authorised him to sell the mare. Mead came and told him he had sold the mare and he repeated that he had no authority to do so. Mead went away and he saw him the same evening in the street and did not speak to him but he sent his groom to tell Mead that he wanted him. Mead did not come and he had not seen his mare since. The mare was his property and he would not have taken £4 15s for her. Albert George Tutte: he was in the service of Mr Hicks as a groom. On 26 March the prisoner Champkin came to his master’s house and he heard him tell his master that he had got a customer for the horse down at the stables. His master went to the stables with Champkin and he went immediately after. Mead and Champkin were there and Mead asked Champkin to trot the horse up and down. Mead then asked what was the lowest price but his master made no reply. Mead borrowed a saddle and bridle and rode the horse away. He saw no more of the horse that day. The next morning both prisoners came together and brought the saddle and bridle back. Mead said he had not sold the horse. He went upstairs to his master and told him what Mead had said. His master said he would have nothing to do with Mead. Mead told him to go with him to fetch the horse so he went to the stable to fetch a halter and then went up the street. He found Mead by the Britannia public house and Champkin told him that Mead had sold the horse. Mead said he had sold the horse. He went back to his master and told him the mare had been sold. Champkin was with him. The same afternoon he went to the Britannia public house and saw the 2 prisoners drinking together. Mead told him he would give his master £4 15s for the mare and have 5 shillings out. Later his master sent him to Mead to tell him he wanted to see him. Mead said he would see him [expletive] first before he would go to him. George Lancaster: on 26 March he had been near Mr. Hicks stable and he saw the 2 prisoners looking at the mare. He heard Mead asked Mr Hicks the lowest price and Mr Hicks made no answer. He saw Mead ride the horse away and heard Mead say he would try her for a few yards. The next day he heard Tutte tell Mead that his master wanted to see him. Mead said he would see him [expletive] first. Joseph Hale: on 26 March the prisoner Mead rode up to his house on a black mare and asked if he would buy the mare. He asked Mead whose it was and he said he was selling it for Mr Hicks and asked £5 for it. Mead then went away. The next day Mead and Champkin came together in a gig and bought the mare for £3 15s. He paid the money to Mead. After he had paid, Mead said he had borrowed the gig and harness and asked him to let him take the mare back and he would send her back that night. They went away and the mare was brought back to his house that night. PC Jeremiah Cuttriss: on 29 March he apprehended the prisoner Frederick Mead on a warrant and charged him with stealing the mare. Mead said he hadn’t stolen the mare but bought it from Mr Hicks for £4 15s when he took back the saddle and bridle. Statement of the accused: Frederick Mead – “I leave it to my solicitor” George Champkin – nothing.

item

Champkin, George,
Mead, Frederick,
Hicks, Charles Cyril,
Tutte, Albert George,
Lancaster, George,
Hale, Joseph,
Cuttriss, Jeremiah

DUNSTABLE, stealing animals, horse, surgeon, innkeeper, groom, Luton Britannia