QSR1863/1/5/3

Depositions of Henry Buckridge, chimney sweep of Luton. Alfred Page, ostler of Luton. Isaac Mariner, police constable of Luton. In the case of Ebenezer Northwood accused of stealing a donkey.

17 November 1862

From: 1862 To: 1863

Henry Buckridge: a chimney sweep living in Spring Place at Luton. On Thursday 13 November between 8pm and 9pm he was at the Crown and Anchor public house with the prisoner. They exchanged donkeys. Buckridge was to give Northwood his donkey and 11 shillings for his. He gave Northwood 2 shillings at the Crown and Anchor and they went to his house. His wife gave Northwood the other 9 shillings. They went to where his donkey was at Mr Williams brickyard. He took Northwood’s donkey to his house and shut it up in the barn. He ran a cart up against the door to keep it shut. It was about 9.30pm when the shut the barn. He went there soon after and found the donkey gone and the cart was back against the door. He advised the police and went with him in search of the donkey. They found it between Luton and Leagrave marsh. He knew it to be his donkey and it was worth £1 10s. He had delivered his previous donkey to the prisoner. The prisoner had brought the donkey home from Dunstable Fair for him and had come home with him and seen him shut it in the barn. The prisoner had not repaid the 11 shillings. Alfred Page: an ostler at the Crown and Anchor in Luton. He saw Buckridge and the prisoner there on the evening of 13 November. He heard them exchanging donkeys and Northwood was to have 11 shillings to boot. Buckridge borrowed a 2 shilling piece from a man named Davies and gave it to Northwood to bind the deal. Northwood was to have the other 9 shillings when he went after his donkey. PC Isaac Mariner: he received information from Buckridge of his loss and went with him in search of the donkey. They met the prisoner on Dunstable Road, near the Fox, and he told him he was suspected of stealing the donkey. Northwood said he knew nothing of the matter. Mariner asked if the donkey was taken from Buckridge’s stalls and the prisoner said it was but it was his own donkey. Northwood would not tell where the donkey was. They went towards Leagrave Marsh and found it by the side of the road. Buckridge identified the donkey. He took the prisoner into custody and the prisoner said he could not have stolen the donkey as it was his property. Statement of the accused: Buckridge had no hired him to bring his donkey, a man named Parrott was to bring it. The donkey was so lame they could not get it along the road. He came to Luton with him and stopped with him all night. He saw not more of Buckridge until Thursday morning. He put his donkey in Buckridge’s stable and in the afternoon had a lot to drink. He did not steal the donkey.

item

Northwood, Ebenezer,
Buckridge, Henry,
Page, Alfred,
Mariner, Isaac

LUTON, chimney sweep, stealing animals, ostler, Luton Crown and Anchor Inn