QSR1848/3/5/9-10

Depositions and examination - James Crawley and Daniel Calning charged wtih stealing 12 boxes of lucifer matches (value 1s) from John Inns of Leighton Buzzard, grocer

28 April 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

James Parrott of Leighton Buzzard, police constable – on 22 April he was going down Juffs Lane in Leighton Buzzard when he saw Calning go into John Inns’ shop. He was not in uniform. He passed the shop and saw there was no one in to wait on Calning. Crawley was waiting outside. He hid and watched them. They are both tramps. He saw Crawley lean in the shop and bring out the parcel now produced with 12 boxes of lucifer matches. Crawley walked fast down the street. He stopped him and took him into custody. The parcel was in the shop window and could not be reached without going into the shop. There was a wire blind placed from the door post round to the counter and the parcel must have been given to Crawley by someone in the shop. Elizabeth Inns, wife of John Inns of Leighton Buzzard – they keep a small grocer’s shop. On 22 April PC Parrott came and asked if he had sold the prisoners any lucifers. She had not. On looking she saw 12 boxes had been taken. She was in the room next to the shop and did not hear anyone knock. James Crawley – he has nothing to say. He took the matches. Calning had nothing to do with them. Calning – he went into the shop to buy some tobacco and had 3 farthings to pay for it. I rapped on the counter 3 times to call somebody to come. He did not take the matches.

item

Crawley, James,
Calning, Daniel,
Inns, John,
Parrott, James,
Inns, Elizabeth

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Leighton Buzzard Jeffs Lane, stealing, police constable