QSR1864/4/5/10

Depositions of James Musgrove, labourer of Kimpton. John Burrell Stratton, brewer and retailer of beer of 2 Dane Street, St Paul, Bedford. William Kilby, police constable of Bedford. In the case of Thomas Sleath accused of breaking and entering a dwelling house and therein stealing a cap, basket, knife, bread and meat.

4 October 1864

From: 1864 To: 1864

James Musgrove: on 22 September about 5am he saw a paper, which had been out in the window of his house inside of a pane of glass, had been pushed in and the catch opened. He missed a basket and child’s cap. The basket was not in reach of the window. A person could have got into the house by the open window. John Burrell Stratton: on 22 September the prisoner came to the house and wanted a pint of beer. The prisoner could not pay for it and offered to leave a basket in trust. The prisoner left the basket and Stratton lent it to Thomas Tillyard. PC William Kilby: from the information he received from Thomas Tillyard on 3 October he went into his house and the basket was delivered to him. He remanded the prisoner and told him he had the basket which had been left with Stratton for a pint of beer. The prisoner said the basket left at Stratton’s was not the basket he had. Sleath said he had sold that basket on the Bromham Road for 5 pence and a pint of beer. Sleath also said that the basket had blackberries in it. Sleath said he had left a basket at Stratton’s for a pint of beet and that he gave 3 pence for it. Statement of the accused: he had a basket in his possession but he did not know how it belonged to him. He went to Mr Conquest, the builder at Kempston, to seek employment. He could not get work and came from there to a public house and then stopped until he was quite fresh. From there he went to the Half Moon and had half a pint and then started to go home to Stagsden. He could not get in and slept in an oathouse for an hour or so. He found himself in possession of the basket. He did not know how he came by it. He returned to Kempston in the morning with the basket in his possession. He called at the Three Hose Shoes at Kempston and proceeded to Bedford and gave the basket to Mr Stratton for a pint of drink.

item

Sleath, Thomas,
Musgrove, James,
Stratton, John Burrell,
Kilby, William,
Tillyard, Thomas

KEMPSTON, Bedford Dane Street, breaking & entering, beer retailer, brewer, Kempston Half Moon, Kempston Three Horse Shoes, STAGSDEN