QSR1859/3/5/7

Depositions of Thomas Pratt, farmer of Eaton Bray. Joseph Burgoine and Edmund Richardson, both labourers of Maulden. William Jeffery, police constable of Eaton Bray. In the case of Benjamin Green accused of stealing 2 leather straps called Wantyes or Belly Bands and an iron wagon slide.

24 May 1859

From: 1859 To: 1859

Thomas Pratt: on the 19 May he was on the road from his house towards the Plough public house. He heard footsteps coming towards him and had reason to think it was the prisoner and so concealed himself. He saw the prisoner go by and he followed him and then went another way towards his own premises. When he got to the hovel part of his premises he heard the sound of a man’s cough inside the hovel. He watched for about an hour and heard the sound of snoring in the hovel. On going back at 4am he missed the person. Both his wagon and cart were near the hovel as where several manure bags. As soon as he missed the man he found the wagon slide gone. He sent off in pursuit of the man and after about a furlong he caught sight of the prisoner on the road. The prisoner set off running. He followed and at about the place he had been when he first saw the prisoner, he saw his wantyes or belly bands on the side of the road. He followed and after about 4 or 5 furlongs he got nearer to the prisoner and called out that he knew him. The prisoner stopped and he charged him. The prisoner said over and over that he had not been on his premises. He found upon the prisoner a manure bag which he believed to be his. He followed the prisoner on to Dagnal and gave him into custody there. He then went back to his premises and found the wagon slide near where the belly bands had been taken from. He had not stopped to pick up the belly bands or manure bag. The belly bands were brought to him the same morning by Joseph Burgoine. The bands were worth 5 shillings each and the wagon slide was worth 5 shillings. In consequence of information received he went to the Sun Inn at Hempstead and brought from there the manure bag which he believed to be his. Joseph Burgoine: on the morning of 19 May he had been on the road near Mr Pratt’s farm in Eaton Bray. It had been about 4am. He saw 2 straps lying in the road. He picked them up and found them to be belly bands. He took them on to Dagnall and gave them to Mr Pratt, who said they were his. Edmund Richardson: on the morning of 19 May he had been on the road near Mr Pratt’s farm in Eaton Bray. It had been about 4am. He saw a manure bag on the bank by the road and picked it up. He took it to Hempstead and gave it into the care of the hostler at the Sun Inn. PC William Jeffery: he took charge of Benjamin Green on 19 May. He had been brought to him by the police constable at Edlesborough. He took the prisoner he must take him to Leighton. The prisoner said that he had licked Pratt once and he would lick him again and that Pratt could not swear he took the things for he did not see him. The prisoner said Pratt could not say he had cut the wantye as he couldn’t find a knife and he could not have cut it without at knife. As they were going to Leighton the prisoner said he had a couple of pheasants ‘tonight’ but wished he had them ‘last night’ instead of stopping where he did to get nailed. He had not mentioned to the prisoner that the wantye had been cut. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say but it had not happened and he was not guilty.

item

Green, Benjamin,
Pratt, Thomas,
Burgoine, Joseph,
Richardson, Edmund,
Jeffery, William

EATON BRAY, MAULDEN, Dagnall, stealing, leather, Hemel Hempstead Sun Inn, Eaton Bray Plough