QSR1861/3/5/7-8

Depositions of John Ellis, draper of Leighton Buzzard. Benjamin Church, butcher of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Jabez Day and Jesse Kiteley accused of stealing a truss of hay.

11 June 1861

From: 1861 To: 1861

John Ellis: Jabez day had been in his service as a groom and was now errand boy and groom. Day took charge of the stables and its contents. The other prisoner lived opposite and he or his father had a horse. The prisoner lived with his father. On 19 May he went into the loft with Day and missed a truss of hay. Day said he knew nothing about it. The following day he told Day he must know something about it and gave him time to consider. Day said Jesse Kiteley had been taking some. He sent for the Superintendent. The value of the hay was 2 shilling and 9 pence. Day had worked for him for 12 months. Kiteley’s father kept cows. He had never missed any corn. Benjamin Church: a butcher in Leighton and he resided with his parents. On 18 May he said the prisoner Day with a truss of hay on a barrow. Day was coming up Black Horse Lane where the prosecutor’s stables were. Day overtook the prisoner Kiteley who also had a barrow. About 100 yards from the stables Day lifted the hay from his barrow and put it in Kiteley’s barrow. Kiteley’s brother came to him after he had been summoned. They called on him and asked what time he had been down the farm that day. He asked them why and one brother told him “Don’t tell no lies”. Statement of the accused: Jesse Kiteley – “I am not guilty”. Jabez Day – he had been in the employment of John Ellis for about 14 months. He knew Jesse Kiteley as his house was opposite his master’s stables. It was about 10 weeks since Kiteley came into his master’s stable and asked for some hay. He told Kiteley he must not have any but Kiteley went up into the loft and took an armful. Kiteley had frequently endeavoured to get him to drink with him at the public house and he had always refused. About a fortnight after taking the hay Kitely took some corn for his old mare. A week later Kiteley came again and again went to the loft and took some hay. He told Kitely he should not. A few days later Kitely wanted more corn and he told him he should not have it but took about a pottle from the bin. Kitely offered him 2 pence but he refused. About 10 minutes after he had left he took up the 2 pence and out it in his pocket. Kiteley came again on 18 May wanting more hay. He told him he should not have it but he went to the loft and brought down a truss of hay with a broken band. He went to his masters hay loft with him and his master counted the trusses saying one had gone. He said nothing to his master. His master spoke to him again saying he thought he knew something about the missing hay. He then told his master all about it.

item

Day, Jabez,
Kiteley, Jesse,
Ellis, John,
Church, Benjamin

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, hay, draper, butcher