QSR1859/1/5/10

Depositions of Nathaniel Thorn, butcher of Eaton Bray, William Dimmock, labourer of Leighton Buzzard and Isaac Cook, police constable of Markyate Street, Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Abraham Downes accused of stealing a sack.

13 December 1858

From: 1858 To: 1859

Nathaniel Thorn: On 7 December he went to Leighton Buzzard market. He took a 5 bushel sack with him, the property of Caleb Smith of Eaton Bray. It was marked “Caleb Smith” on one side and Eaton Bray on the other. He stopped at the Sun Inn at Leighton. The horse was put in the stable and sack was on his back. He asked the ostler for it and he said he knew nothing about it. A boy standing by said he had seen a grey haired man take the sack. He informed the police. It was worth 2 shillings. William Dimmock: on 7 October he had been a Leighton Market and was in the stables at the Sun Inn helping the ostler. About 3 o’clock he saw Downes there. He began to sweat at the ostler and the ostler went into the other stable. There was sack in the stable which had fallen off the back of Mr Thorn’s horse. Downes put it on his horse and then put it in his cart and did away with it. Mr Thorn came into the stable and asked for his sack. He told him Downes had gone away with it. He had seen Downes at the Sun Inn before. PC Isaac Cook: the prisoner lived in part of Markyate Street in the parish of Flamstead. He went to the prisoner’s house on 8 December and found there a sack in the stable. He apprehended the prisoner and charged him. The prisoner said he was innocent and if someone had put a sack in his cart he could not help it. Statement of the accused: he had been worse for drink and how it came to his cart he did not know. The horse and cart went home without him.

item

Downes, Abraham,
Thorn, Nathaniel,
Dimmock, William,
Cook, Isaac

EATON BRAY, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, sack, butcher