QSR1830/495-497

Information of John Jefferies; information of Ann Morris, servant to John Jefferies.

December 1830

From: 1830 To: 1830

John Jefferies: he and Thomas Asplin of Thurleigh lost ten ferrets, a box, spud, and dog. Suspecting Samuel Colgrave they went in search of him. They also knew that John Gale had lost a gun, and decided to enquire for that as they went. The first day they went to Clapham, then to Bedford where they enquired at the Bear, then Sir William Long's brewery, one of his men telling them that a gun had been bought by the landlord of a public house in Fenlake. They identified the gun there as the one stolen, and the landlord gave it to them saying that he had paid 10 shillings and a pint of beer for it. [See QSR1830/507-508 for evidence in the case of the stolen gun.] The next day they went to Barford, and then on to Cardington, but they could find nothing & began to despair. Stephen Nottingham, a labourer, then told them that Colgrave had been at a public house in Colmworth. They decided to have another trial as there was some "ground to work upon". At Colmworth they found he had been drinking until 5am; at the Cock, Eaton Socon, he had a glass of gin, and carried the missing articles; at St Neots they received a clue which led them to Buckden, and there another one which took them to Huntingdon. He attempted to sell the ferrets at Huntingdon and stayed that night at the Queen's Head. Also whilst in Huntingdon Colgrave had a new box made for the ferrets and destroyed and burnt the old one. They then followed clues to Godmanchester, Fenny Stanton, where theylodged for the night, and finally Cambridge. They hired a coach and started a tour of public houses and found at the Barley Mow that a man answering the description was there. The ferrets, box, and spud were produced from a cellar, and two dogs from the stable. Colgrave was hauled from his bed in an upstairs room, and after dressing was placed in the cage. After they had breakfasted Colgrave was taken before the Mayor, who gave him over into their custody to convey to Thurleigh. Ann Morris: had locked up the old brewhouse belonging to her master John Jefferies, from which the ferrets were stolen.

English

item

Colgrave, Samuel,
Jefferies, John,
Asplin, Thomas,
Gale, John,
Morris, Ann,
Long, William,
Nottingham, Stephen

THURLEIGH, CLAPHAM, BEDFORD, Fenlake, GREAT BARFORD, CARDINGTON, COLMWORTH, EATON SOCON, St Neots, Buckden, Huntingdon, Godmanchester, Fenstanton, Cambridge, Eaton Socon Cock, Huntingdon Queens Head, Cambridge Barley Mow, stealing, ferrets, guns