QSR1862/2/5/1

Depositions of John Hallworth, miller of Ampthill. George Muckleston, parish constable of Toddington. Edward Holmes, labourer of Toddington and George Denbigh Hicks, surgeon of Toddington. In the case of William Freeman accused of stealing a horse cloth.

17 March 1862

From: 1862 To: 1862

John Hallworth: on 7 March he was at Long Lane Farm in Toddington. He left his cart at the gate in the road tied up. He stayed about half an hour or more. He put the horse rug on the horse. It had a value of 14 shillings. When he came out the rug had gone. It was marked with the letter ‘H’. A strap had also been taken off. He mostly threw the rug on the horse without fastening it. On 10 March he saw the rug lying on a table in Mr Hicks room at Toddington. A man by the name of Edward Holmes claimed it. He had not seen the prisoner when he tied up the horse and cart. George Muckleston: he apprehended the prisoner on 10 March and charged him with stealing the rug. The prisoner said he had found it by the side of the White Arch at Toddington, which lead from Long lane Farm. White Arch was about a mile from Long Lane Farm. The prisoner said he would not have sold the cloth if his father had not persuaded him. Edward Holmes: he knew William Freeman as he was his father in law. He received the rug from Freeman on 10 March and Freeman had said if he could not find the owner he would not want it and should sell it. The prisoner said he had found it and if the owner could be found he could have it. Freeman did not ask any money for it and did not offer it for sale. He took it to Dr Hicks at Toddington. The prisoner did not tell him to sell it for him. He took it to Dr Hicks to see if he had heard of a rug being missing. The mark was off when he received it from Freeman. George Denbigh Hicks: a surgeon with a practice at Toddington. On the morning of 10 March, Holmes was in his yard. Holmes told him a man had found a horse rug and wanted him to find a customer for it. He called at Holmes house but did not see him. He saw Holmes later and Holmes came to his home and showed him the rug. He examined the rug and said it was Hallworth’s. He informed Hallworth. He saw no letter on the rug. Statement of the accused: he had not given anyone liberty to sell the cloth only to find its owner. He let him [the owner] have it if he came forward as he did not want it.

item

Freeman, William,
Hallworth, John,
Muckleston, George,
Holmes, Edward,
Hicks, George Denbigh

AMPTHILL, TODDINGTON, parish constables, surgeons, millers, stealing