QSR1850/1/5/9/a

Depositions of Edward Ashwell, farmer of Odell, Joseph Neal, police constable of Harrold, Robert Westley, William Goodman, George Foskett, Thomas Askew, all labourers of Odell. In the case of William Crouch, accused of stealing 4 bushels of wheat

6 November 1849

From: 1849 To: 1850

Robert Westley: was in the employ of Edward Ashwell. On 27 October he locked the door of the lower barn, in which a sack of wheat had been left. William Crouch was with him. There had previously been 2 sacks of wheat in the barn, but the millers cart had arrived and taken one of them. The key to the barn was given to Edward Ashwell. William Goodman: he opened the barn on 29 October, and there were no sacks of wheat inside. George Foskett: on 30 October he saw William Crouch wheel a barrow out of the farmyard, in which the lower barn stood. He asked him where he was going and what was in the barrow but he did not reply. He asked him where he had come from and Crouch replied that he had been down the lane by the church. Thomas Askew joined them. Thomas Askew: on 30 October he saw William Crouch wheeling a barrow. Foskett was with him. There appeared to be 3/4 bushels of wheat in the sack. He went with Foskett to tell Ashwell what they had seen. Joseph Neal, police constable: on 31 October he traced the marks of a wheel of a barrow from near the church down to the river. He found 3/4 bushels of wheat in the river close to the bank. He followed the tracks further and found the barrow.Statement of the accused - William Crouch: he was asked by William Summerfield to wait for the miller. He took the lock off the door and moved the loose wheat clear so the sack could be got out. Robert Westley then arrived. He had nothing more to say.

item

Crouch, William,
Ashwell, Edward,
Westley, Robert,
Goodman, William,
Foskett, George,
Askew, Thomas,
Neal, Joseph

ODELL, stealing, wheat