QSR1865/3/5/7

Depositions of Edward Wildman, butcher of Toddington. Benjamin George, police constable stationed at Toddington. In the case of George Pates otherwise Tooty Poulter accused of stealing a leg of pork.

21 April 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Edward Wildman: the prisoner was a stranger to him. On 15 April about 9pm, there was a leg of pork and other joints of meat hanging in his shop. He was outside the shop and saw someone inside it take down the leg of pork. 2 people came out of the shop and ran away. He noticed one of the men had a leg of pork with him. He went into the shop and found his leg of pork gone. He ran after the men and overtook the prisoner, who was running. He saw the leg of pork drop down from the prisoner. He caught hold of Pates and asked him where the pork was that he had stolen from his house. He took the prisoner back with him. The leg of pork was brought to his shop. He gave the prisoner into custody. The pork weighed 11 ¼ lbs and was valued at 6s 6d. [cross examination] he had not hurried back to the shop as he thought his mother was there. He had not asked where the man who had taken the leg of pork was and the prisoner had not said the man had gone on and thrown the leg of pork down. He had not told the prisoner he must have him as he could not catch the man who had stolen the pork. Sergeant Benjamin George: the prisoner was a stranger to Toddington. On 15 April he took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said he was innocent and knew nothing about it. When he was being conveyed to the lock up the prisoner said he would defy the man to swear to him again. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Pates, George,
Poulter, Tooty,
Wildman, Edward,
George, Benjamin

TODDINGTON, stealing, pork, butcher