QSR1859/2/5/8

Depositions of John Stuart, police constable stationed at Heath and Reach and Richard Labrum, engine proprietor of Heath and Reach. In the case of James Meakins accused of stealing 50 pounds weight in coal.

29 March 1859

From: 1859 To: 1859

PC John Stuart: on 8 March, whilst on duty, he saw the prisoner in Mr Labrum’s yard. He suspected the prisoner of having stolen coals and was on watch. The prisoner had a bag of coals on his shoulder and was going towards the road from the yard. When the prisoner saw him he threw down the bag and ran across the field. He went after him and overtook him. He took the prisoner back to where he had thrown down the bag and accused him of stealing coals. The prisoner said it was not his bag. The prisoner said he could only summons him for it. Stuart immediately contacted Mr Labrum and took the prisoner into custody. The bag contained 54lb of coals and a portion of coals dropped out of the bag. It had bee quite dark at the time but he had his lamp. Richard Labrum: he had lately missed coals from his premises and had told PC Stuart to look out. He was called up by PC Stuart. Stuart had the prisoner in custody. He took charge of the bag of coals. There was about half a cwt. They were the same sort of coals as on his premises; a sort of cobble hard coal for the engine. The prisoner did not deny taking the coals but said nothing about it. The prisoner said the bag was not his. He matched the coals with those on his premises and they corresponded. Statement of the accused: he was innocent.

item

Meakins, James,
Stuart, John,
Labrum, Richard

HEATH & REACH, stealing, coal