QSR1859/3/5/3-4

Depositions of Mary, wife of James Buckett, victualler of Woburn. John Taylor, a hostler. George Michael Jennings and James Jennings, both labourer of Woburn. Alfred Ing, police constable of Woburn. William Rutland, labourer of Woburn on behalf of the defence. In the case of John Green and Richard Green accused of stealing a piece of dried beef.

20 May 1859

From: 1859 To: 1859

Mary Buckett: wife of James Buckett, keeper of the Black Horse public house at Woburn. On 13 May, between 6 and 7pm, the prisoners and another man were drinking in the Tap Room. No-one else was present. About 7pm she saw the prisoner, John Green, crossing the road away from the house with a bundle under his arm wrapped in a smock. The prisoner had no bundle in the house and his smock had been hanging loose across his shoulders. In consequence of what her hostler said went to the Tap Room and missed a piece of beef, which had been hanging from the ceiling, along with some hams. One of the hams was swinging about. She told the hostler to go after the prisoner, John Green, and fetch him back. Richard Green was still in the house and on hearing what she said he ran out of the house. The beef weighed 12 pounds and was valued at 12 shillings. A man by the name of Rutland was in the Tap Room when she returned to it and missed the beef. John Taylor: a hostler at the Black Horse public house at Woburn. On the evening of 13 May the 2 prisoners and another man came into the Tap Room and sat drinking for about half an hour. Richard Green then went away. He took particular notice that Richard Green had nothing with him. Shortly after Richard Green returned and joined John Green. None of the men had bundles. Soon after, he saw John Green go out of the back door, up the yard and into the street. He had a bundle under his arm wrapped round with his smock. When John Green came in he had no bundle and the smock was across his shoulders. He knew his master had some hams and a piece of dried beef hanging in the tap room. In consequence of something which was said when John Green left the house, he went to the tap room and missed something. He noticed the ham was swinging about and informed Mrs Buckett. Mrs Buckett came into the tap room and said the man had stolen the beef and told him to run after him. Richard Green, who was present, ran out of the house as fast as he could and he ran after him. He followed him to the corner of Chapel Street and saw him run up Cobbs Row. Both prisoners lived up there. He went for the policeman and then went to John Green’s house with him. John Green was taken into custody. Whilst he was in the lock up he asked Green something about the smock. At that point Green struck him a back handed blow across the mouth and made his nose bleed. In the presence of 2 policemen Green said that if he did not shut up then Taylor would have it worse. John Green used very bad language and the worse for liquor. George Michael Jennings: a pensioner living in the Top House in Cobbs Row, Woburn. He knew the prisoner Richard Green who lived at his house but did not sleep there. Green’s mother, her granddaughter and a woman by the name of Eliza Bliss occupied an upstairs room. Richard Green boarded (had his meals with) Bliss. On the evening of 13 May, Richard Green came into the house and went directly through into the back yard where the privy was. He did not see if Richard Green had anything with him as he was reading the paper. He went upstairs and on coming down, Richard was not in the house. The prisoner John Green had been sitting in the room under the window and then went into the garden to bring in some clothes. When he returned John had also gone. It was not unusual for the prisoner Richard Green to come in at that time. The houses were close together and anyone may get over the wall close to the privy. James Jennings: a labourer living with his father. He knew Richard Green as he lived out the house but did not sleep there. On 13 May, about 10 minutes before the policeman took John Green, he saw Dick Green come out of their house and go down the row. It was not unusual for him to do so. PC Alfred Ing: at 7pm on 13 May he went to the house of John Green and on the way saw Richard Green coming out of Cobbs Row. He found John Green at home and the worse for liquor. He took John Green into custody. John Green said he knew nothing of the beef and on searching Green’s house he found nothing. He took John Green to the lockup. He heard the witness Taylor say something about a smock. The prisoner then struck Taylor in the face and made his nose bleed. Green said if Taylor did not shut up he would give him worse. On 17 May he apprehended Richard Green and on telling him the charge, Green said it was all the spite of Mr Young, the Superintendent. On 18 May he searched the privy belonging to the house of George Michael Jennings in Cobbs Row and found a piece of beef. Richard Green cohabited with a woman who lodged there. William Rutland [for the defence]: he had been in the Black Horse on 13 May. Richard Green was there. He heard Mrs Buckett tell the hostler to run after John Green and that she missed some beef. He saw the ham swinging. They had all gone in together and he had been going out when John Green was going out but he had turned back. He saw John Green go up the yard with the smock under his arm. Statement of the accused: John Green – he was guilty. All 3 of them had gone in together and had beer until it was time for his brother to go and fetch the money. He and Rutland sat there afterwards. Rutland went out and he was left by himself. He took the beef off the nail and put it into his smock. When his brother came up with the money and gave it to him, he took it and the beef and went home. Richard then came and told him he was accused of taking Buckett’s beef and a policeman was coming after it. He told Richard he knew nothing about it. He put the beef behind the door and pointed to the smock on the table. Richard felt it and left satisfied he knew nothing of it. When Richard went, he put the beef in his sister’s privy. Richard Green: he was not guilty.

item

Green, John,
Green, Richard,
Buckett, James,
Buckett, Mary,
Taylor, John,
Jennings, George Michael,
Jennings, James,
Ing, Alfred,
Rutland, William

WOBURN, Woburn Black Horse, stealing, beef, victualler, hostler