QSR1848/1/5/31-32

Depositions and examinations - John White and George Brown charged with stealing a ham (value 8s) from Jane Taylor at Eaton Socon on 12 December 1847

14 December 1847

From: 1847 To: 1848

Daniel Taylor of Eaton Socon – he lives at the White Horse Inn, Eaton Socon, and manages the business of his late brother’s widow, Jane Taylor. On Sunday night 12 Dec White and Brown came in to lodge. After they left on Monday morning he discovered one of 4 hams in the chimney corner was missing. It had two marked branded on it with a hot poker. He went after the men and told various people what had happened. He heard they had been taken from William Sperry of Roxton, who overtook them on horseback. He has seen the ham in the constable’s possession. A large piece has been cut out of the thick part, removing the brand. He can still swear to the ham as there is a small part of the marks still left. Thomas Hills, parish constable of Moggerhanger – when told by William Sperry of Mr Taylor’s loss he went after the 2 prisoners who had passed his shop about ½ hour before. They looked like railway labourers and Mr Sperry said the robbery had been committed by 2 such men. When he came up to them he tried to take them into custody and put his hand on one. The other man ran away, but George Ongley and Mr Davis went after him and brought him back. The men had a bundle with them, in which he found the ham. George Brown and John White – the ham was given to Brown by his uncle at Durham and he was carrying it to his mother at Horley near Reigate in Surrey. The piece cut out of it was taken because they were hungry.

item

White, John,
Brown, George,
Taylor, Jane,
Taylor, Daniel,
Hills, Thomas,
Sperry, William,
Ongley, George,
Davis (d)

EATON SOCON, Moggerhanger, Durham, Horley, stealing, ham, Eaton Socon White Horse, parish constable, railway worker