QSR1850/2/5/9/a

Depositions of James Malden, famer of Luton, William Summerfield, labourer, Joseph Welch, game keeper, and John Millard, police constable, all of Luton. In the case of Thomas Peck accused of stealing a oak timber tree

8 April 1850

From: 1850 To: 1850

James Malden: a farmer of Stopsley who rents the property from Mr Crawley. There is a wood called Slaughter Wood on the property of which he rented the underwood but not the timber trees. He sold some of the underwood to Mr Hawkes of the Cross Keys, Luton. He saw the accused at work there. Mr Hawkes asked if the accused, Peck, could fell the underwood for him but he agreed but told him to be careful not to cut down any young trees only what had shot up from the stumps. He said he was entitled to as Mr Hawkes was very particular. Malden saw Peck cut underwood in December and January but not February. He did not see Peck cut down and trees but a great number were cut down, mainly oak, and he missed a great many. On going to the wood with Peck, he said he knew nothing of the young trees which had been felled. William Summerfield: shepherd to Mr Malden. He saw Peck in the wood faggoting underwood. He was beside the wood one morning when he saw an oak tree fall. They was nobody else in the wood but Peck. On entering the wood he saw 2more felled trees, and Peck told him they had thinned the trees. He said they were not planted tress but came from "the fall of an acorn". He later saw Peck and Parson put the trees in a cart. Several times afterward he saw felled trees in the woods, and after Parson arrived, they would be gone. He counted 60 stumps of trees, which looked to have been freshly cut. Joseph Welch: a game keeper. He had seen peck in the wood felling larger trees. On 21 February he watched parson arrive in a horse and cart and with peck, they put some poles on it. When challenging Peck, Peck said he had feeling nothing except what he was allowed to. He counted 83 stumps of trees. John Millard: went with Welch on 30 March to Slaughters wood where they counted 83 freshly cut oak stumps. They were all close to areas where underwood had been recently cut. On apprehending Peck, Peck told him he had not cut down any trees. On the following day, Peck said Mr Malden had told him the tress stood too thick and to cut down 2 or 3 before the cart came. Peck said he and Malden knew they were doing wrong but cutting the trees down was of no benefit to him.

item

Peck, Thomas,
Malden, James,
Summerfield, William,
Welch, Joseph,
Millard, John,
Parsons

LUTON, STOPSLEY, stealing, oak, timber, shepherd