Deposition 1883

Ref.QSR1883/3/5/7a-c

22 June 1883

Depositions of David Thompson, beer seller and shopkeeper of Harrold, Thomas Willey, innkeeper of Harrold and Thomas Page, police constable of Harrold.

In the case of Edward Loakes accused of stealing a fork. [QSR1883/3/5/7a]

David Thompson: a beer seller of Harrold and amongst other things he sold forks. On 10 May he had all his forks. He missed a fork on 12 May. He informed Constable Page of his loss and the next day was brought the fork by Page, which he identified as his.

Thomas Willey: on 2 June about 11am the prisoner called at his house. The prisoner had a fork with him and asked him to buy it. He did not buy it and afterwards Loakes retuned and asked him to lend him some money on it. He lent him 2 shillings and planned to keep the fork until the next Wednesday when Loakes would call for it. Loakes never called for it.

Thomas Page: from information he received on 12 May he went to Willey's house and took the fork into his possession. The prisoner was in custody on another charge. The prisoner had told him he had bought the fork at Wellingborough.

Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

22 June 1883

Depositions of John Bailey, farmer of Harrold, Ann Dew, housekeeper, Caleb Le Fevre the younger, butcher of Harrold and Thomas Page, police constable of Harrold.

In the case of Edward Loakes accused of stealing a piece of beef and a piece of butter. [QSR1883/3/5/7b]

John Bailey: on 9 June he purchased some meat from Mr Le Fevre for 3s 11d and saw it taken to his home. On 10 June, from what his housekeeper told him, he went to the dairy and missed the beef and half a pound of butter. He searched outside the house and found footmarks which came from the direction of Odell. He sent for PC Page. With Page he observed a footmark (without a shoe). They followed the other footmarks out of the yard and across the field towards Odell. He knew the prisoner as he had worked for him and the prisoner lived by the side of the road to Odell.

Ann Dew: housekeeper to the prosecutor. On the 9 June she placed the beef purchased from Le Fevre in the dairy. Next morning she missed the beef and butter which had already been stored in the there.

Caleb Le Ferve: on 9 June the prosecutor purchased 4 pound weight of beef from him. He cut the meat differently to how he would normally cut the meat and believe the meat now produced to be the meat he sold to Mr Bailey.

Thomas Page: he examined the premises with the prosecutor and they found footmarks which lead towards Odell. They traced the footmarks from the yard, across the field of Mr Bailey, to the field occupied by Robert Thompson and to about 15 yards from the prisoner back door. He spoke to the prisoner who said he had got home a little after 10pm and not got up that morning until after 7am. He examined the prisoner's boots and asked if he had any beef. Loakes said his wife he bought the beef from Harrold and it had been cooked in a pudding. He asked the prisoner if he had any butter and the prisoner fetched some butter. The prisoner wife came in and he asked her where she had got the beef from. Before she could answer the prisoner said "you got it from Harrold didn't you?" She said her husband had brought it home the night before. Asked where she had the butter from, she replied the shop in Harrold.

Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

22 June 1883

Depositions of Joseph McGrath, William McGrath, shoemaker of Harrold, Robert Franklin, carrier of Carlton and Thomas Page, police constable of Harrold.

To give evidence in the case of Edward Loakes accused of stealing a fork. [QSR1883/3/5/7c]

Joseph McGrath: on 7 May he had in his possession a four [?] fork. He identified the same fork when produced by Constable Page on 11 June.

William McGrath: a shoemaker of Harrold and the father of the prosecutor. On 7 may his son was working in the garden with the fork. He also used the fork on 8 May and then put it in his barn.

Robert Franklin: he resided at Carlton and whilst conversing with the prisoner, he was asked if he would buy a fork. He replied he would not. The prisoner said he had dug all his ground and wanted to sell it. After a discussion Franklin bought the fork for 2 shillings and then put in his barn.

Thomas Page: on 10 June, from information received he went to Robert Franklin and received a fork. The prisoner was in custody on another charge.

Statement of the accused: nothing to say.