QSR1830/521-523

Continuation (from QSR1830/479-480) of deposition of John Ambrose Walton, journeyman to Joseph Coleman).

December 1830

From: 1830 To: 1830

The next morning he went with the Constable of Astwood [Thomas Cook] to make further enquiries about the 14 missing cheeses. Searched several houses and interviewed Thomas Wright who seemed rather confused: "I had been to Mr Pettit's to fetch a [dead] sheep we had bought the night before .... we crossed the road and went down that close with the sheep because we had no cloth on it and would not be called Crow Butchers". He said he had "heard something rattle along the road" but denied seeing the wagon. Walton and the constable then saw Jesse Horton, and his account was similar to that of Wright. They had been down to Mr Pettit's "to fetch a rotten sheep we bought the night before - we went down the closes becaue we would not come through the Town as we had no cloth on it and would not be called old Savage of Cranfield". He denied seeing the cheeses. Walton and the constable again saw Wright who again denied all knowledge of the cheeses until Walton wrote a notice of a two-guinea reward and said to the constable "this is a public offer, go and stick it on the post". Wright then said "I know where the cheeses are - let them force the money and I'll find them". He refused to give information without the money. Walton then went in search of Horton, who again denied all knowledge of the cheese: "Damn the waggon and the cheese I wish they had been at Hell before they came here, and damn you what business had you to search my house this Morning, where's your authority?". Walton: "after some persuasion and threats he walked with us to the public house". Acting on further information the constable and John Taylor again searched Horton's house and an hour later came back with six cheeses in a wheelbarrow. The constable later brought eight cheeses from Thomas Wright's premises. Walton identified all the cheeses as belonging to his master. Wright then said: "on crossing the road we kicked against some cheeses and I carried 8 of them home in my smock and the sheep on my shoulder". somebody in the room said "That was a pretty good weight to carry home" and someone else said"I don't believe he carried them all". Wright said he did - Jesse Horton then said "I carried six and they gave me a sweat".

item

Wright, Thomas,
Horton, Jesse,
Payne, Robert,
Walton, John Ambrose,
Cook, Thomas

Astwood, Buckinghamshire, parish constables, stealing, cheese