QSR1866/1/5/20b,21b

Depositions of Joseph Whiting, labourer of Sheep Lane, Potsgrove. William Francis, labourer of Hockcliffe. George Edmunds, police constable stationed at Potsgrove. In the case of Patrick Duffey and Edward Carney, late of Heath and Reach, accused of stealing a cord jacket.

22 December 1865

From: 1865 To: 1866

Joseph Whiting: he was a labourer and lived at Potsgrove. On 20 December he was at work in a field in Heath and Reach, by the side of the Turnpike Road. He left his jacket in the field about 10 yards from the road. It was worth 10 shillings. In consequence of what a man name Francis said, he went to look for his jacket and found it gone. He saw 2 men running and looking behind. One was dressed in dark and the other brown. One ran into Kings Wood and he caught Patrick Duffey. He found a jacket upon Duffey which had been lost from the field at the same time as his was taken. It belonged to William Fuller. He afterwards went with PC Edmunds in search of the other man and found him lodging at a house in Fenny Stratford. He was shown a jacket by the policeman and identified it as his. William Francis: he lived at Hockcliffe and was a labourer on the Turnpike Road. He was at worked there about 2pm on 20 December. He knew the field where Fuller and Whiting were at work. He saw 2 men, the size and appearance of the prisoners, come along the road. He missed them from the road and they went through a gate to a field for a minute. He saw them return to the road from the field. They ran off in the direction of Kings Wood. He called to Fuller and Whiting. PC George Edwards: on 20 December he went with Whiting in search of Carney. They found him in bed in Fenny Stratford and the jacket was hanging up in the road where he was. There were 2 other lodgers in the room. He took Carney into custody on the charge of stealing the jacket. Carney said “all right. I never stole it. I bought it off a chap on the road for 4 shillings”. Whiting identified it as his jacket. Statements of the accused: Patrick Duffey – he did not wish to say anything. Edward Carney – He did not steal the jacket. He had bought the coat off a man along the road.

item

Duffey, Patrick,
Carney, Edward,
Fuller, William,
Whiting, Joseph,
Francis, William,
Edmunds, George

HEATH & REACH, Hockcliffe, POTSGROVE, Heath & Reach Kings Wood, Fenny Stratford, stealing, coat