QSR1840/1/5/48

Depositions and examination - William Rust

17 December 1839

From: 1839 To: 1840

Robert Wood of Oakley, woodman to the Duke of Bedford - on 4 December he was at Putnoe Wood in Goldington the whole day. John Elton and William Rust and himself were felling underwood which belongs to the Duke of Bedford. They all left work at about 4.30pm and parted in the wood to go home. John Elton went with him, and they left William Rust who said he was going home to Ravensden. About 10 minutes later he heard a chopping in the wood. He and Elton went back and when they got to the place where they left work he saw Rust with a faggot tied up on his shoulders. There were no faggots in that part of the wood when they parted after work. Rust was going towards Ravensden with the faggot on his back. He said "Rust, this won't do". Rust said "I hope you won't say nothing about it. He said "I must". He told Rust he would tell Mr Loton the Duke of Bedford's wood steward. Rust did not put the faggot down in his presence. The next morning Rust was there at work. he saw a faggot on the spot which was tied up where he stood the previous night. The faggot was not in the same state - the biggest pieces of wood had been taken out of it. Rust denied taking the wood out. Rust could not deceive him as he had worked in the wood for 15 years. The same day at 2pm he missed 10 poles from the same range that Rust was working at and close to the spot where he made the faggot. William Rust - said he never had the faggot on his shoulder and took no wood out of the wood. He has six children and had not a bit of wood to burn.

item

Rust, William,
Wood, Robert,
Elton, John,
Loton

GOLDINGTON, RAVENSDEN, Goldington Putnoe Wood, stealing, wood, woodman