QSR1839/1/5/6i

Deposition of Jeremiah Matthews of Brook End in Northill, labourer, in case of James Makins of Great Barford, labourer, charged with setting fire to a hay rick.

25 October 1838

From: 1838 To: 1839

Recalled going along the North Road to Tempsford on Sunday 18 September at about 1.45pm in a cart with his brother. Near the end of Blunham Road saw a fire in a haystack which had clearly only been burning for a short time. Saw a man ("that man was the prisoner") coming from a gate into the road. He pretended not to be able to see the fire though it was in plain view whether on foot or in a cart. He got out of the cart and went after Makins who set off running away from the fire towards Girtford on the North Road. He did not follow him far as he had left his children on the roadside and they were frightened. When the prisoner finally spotted the fire he guessed it to be a mile away although it was nearby. He said "it won't hurt" or similar. When Matthews got to the stack he saw it was burning at the corner nearest to the Blunham Road.

item

Meakins, James,
Matthews, Jeremiah

Great Barford, NORTHILL, Northill Brook End, Girtford, Tempsford Great North Road, BLUNHAM, arson, hay