QSR1844/3/5/35

Depositions and examination - John Burrows

1 and 3 July 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

William Wells of Southill – he is a labourer employed by Joseph Lockey of Southill. That morning (1 July) he went to work in a field in Broom and took with him his meals for the day in a wicker basket, consisting of a large piece of bread and a pork dumpling wrapped up in a cloth with ah knife he bought some time ago for a shilling. He had his beaver about 10am then left a portion of the bread and meat in the basket with the knife and put it under the hedge between the field he was working in and Mr Neal’s. About 12pm he was told that a boy had stolen his basket and was running away with his food. He saw the prisoner running across Mr Neal’s field with a cloth in his hand. He pursued him into Mr Taylor’s field and he saw Burrows throw what he had into his hand into the brook. He continued to follow him and caught up to him in a spinney. Mr Sharpe the policeman happened to be on the spot at the time and pulled the boy from under the bushes. After he had secured Burrows he returned to the spot where he had seen him throw something into the brook. He found his cloth with part of his bread and dumpling. James Gray of Broom – he was riding in a cart down the Broom road and saw a basket lying under the hedge which runs from the road between the fields. When he had passed the hedge he saw Burrows stooping down under it close to the spot where he saw the basket. He saw a cloth in Burrows’ hand which he tucked under his jacket. He suspected it was stolen from the basket. He called Burrows, who immediately ran away. He jumped out of the cart and ran towards some men working in the field and told them what he had seen. The men ran after Burrows and about half an hour afterwards he saw him in custody. The two men who were at work were Charles Lockey and Samuel Chambers. Charles Dilly of Broom – last Friday (June 28) he went out in the morning to work for Mr Taylor in a field in Broom and took his meals for the day with him, consisting of some bread and port in a dish tied up in a cotton pocket handkerchief and put into a basket. When he began work he put his basket down on the ground. He covered it over with his jacket. About 8am he had his breakfast and his dinner about one, after which he left part of his victuals still tied up in the handkerchief in the basket. About 4pm he and the other men who were at work with him went to have their 4 o’clock beaver at the same spot where they had left their baskets. He found all his victuals had been stolen out of his basket with the handkerchief. Only the employ dish was left. Four of his comrades had been served in the same way – Henry Bean, John Woodcock, William Finding and John Huckle. They all dined together. He saw them all put some victuals into their baskets after dinner. The baskets were in the same field they were working in, but they were often some distance off and generally with their backs towards the baskets. Last night the policeman showed him a pocket handkerchief he is sure is the one that was taken from his basket. He knows it by the pattern and the sewing being undone at one corner. George Sharpe of Biggleswade – last Monday he apprehended John Burrows. He searched Buurows and found in his possession among other things a pocket handkerchief. Last night he was at Mr Taylor’s of Broom on other business and was informed that several of his men had been robbed of their victuals. He showed Dilley the pocket handkerchief which he identified.

item

Burrows, John,
Wells, William,
Gray, James,
Dilley, Charles,
Sharpe, George,
Lockey, Joseph,
Lockey, Charles,
Chambers, Samuel,
Neal,
Taylor

SOUTHILL, Broom, stealing, bread, pork, , farm labourer