Notes for: John Cotton Longstaff
Cambridge Independent Press 20 Jul 1867:
TRUMPINGTON. - Caroline Lloyd was charged by William Rooke, alias "Blind Billy," a well-known vendor of fish, fruit, &c., with having stolen three mackerel on Sunday morning, the 7th July. - The prosecutor had been in the habit of going to Trumpington upon several Sunday mornings, and after having disposed of his fish he found himself short of the amount of money he ought to have received in accordance with the number of mackerel he had taken with him. Having suspicion that something was wrong, on Sunday, June 30, he acquainted p.c. Longstaff with the circumstance and it was arranged that on the following Sunday morning a watch should be kept. Accordingly, when the time arrived, the officer, accompanied by a witness, stationed themselves in a plantation opposite to the prisoner's house. Rooke had not long left his donkey and cart before Mrs. Lloyd was seen to open her door, look all ways to see if things were right, and then to go up to the cart and help herself to a couple of mackerel and go back into her house. But not content to stay, she again ventured in search of fish, and upon this occasion her modesty allowed her to take but one. Upon being questioned by the police-officer as to whether she had purchased any fish, she said she had taken them from the cart during Rooke's absence, but it was her intention to pay for them; that she went up stairs for the purpose of getting a shilling to pay for them, but when she came down Rooke was gone. - In defence she said she took them from the cart, but had no intention of stealing them. She further stated that she went half-way to Grantchester in pursuit of Rooke. - In answer to the Bench the prisoner said that it was not till after the policeman had waited upon her that she went after Rooke. - The CHAIRMAN said it was a very bad case and sentenced her to one month's imprisonment. - Rooke then informed the Magistrates that the prisoner's husband had threatened him in consequence of having taken proceedings against his wife, and he was afraid that such threats would be carried out. - The man was then called into the room and required to find two sureties in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months.
Cambridge Independent Press 7 Nov 1868:
TRUMPINGTON. - William Long, a labourer from Downham, was committed for trial for stealing a spade, the property of John Haggis, and a spade and pickaxe, the property of Chas. Frost, at Trumpington, on the 19th Oct., also a spade and foot-iron, the property of Thomas Covell, at Harston, on the 21st October. These tools were stolen from Coprolite Works in the aforenamed parishes, and as it transpired that prisoner had been twice previously convicted, the Bench refused to deal summarily with the case. Prisoner had disposed of the tools at Rayments, a marine store dealer in Barnwell, from whence they were recovered by p.c. Longstaff, and prisoner was subsequently apprehended at Ely.
Cambridge Independent Press 12 Dec 1868:
THEFT. - William Lloyd, of Ely, was charged with stealing a shovel, the property of John Brown, and a pickaxe, value 3s. 6d., the property of Henry Carter, from the coprolite pits at Trumpington, on the 27th November. Complainant reported their loss to p.c. Longstaff, who found the tools sold at Rayment’s marine store shop in Barnwell, having been sold there by the prisoner the day after they were stolen. Prisoner, who formerly resided at Trumpington, was traced to Ely on the 30th, and, on being apprehended by the p.c. before named admitted the theft. There being a previous conviction for felony, the Bench declined to adjudicate summarily, and prisoner was sent for trial to next assizes.