QSR1840/2/5/1

Depositions and examination - Francis Smith

23 March 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

James White of Woburn, gamekeeper for the Duke of Bedford - yesterday between 2 and 3am he was watching the game round his house with William Guy assisting him. William Guy told him a cart had gone through the gate out of his field. He tracked the wheels towards the garden of Thomas Ireland which adjoins his field. He followed the cart along the road towards Brickhill - it was a dog cart with Francis Smith drawing it. He found sacks in the cart, with potatoes in 2 of them - 2 bushels or more. He thought they were Thomas Ireland's potatoes as he knew there were some in a pit in his garden. Smith refused to go back with him so he sent Guy for the constable. Smith struck him several times, got his finger in his mouth and bit it to the bone, and gave him black eyes. Guy returned and they secured Smith and brought him back to Woburn, where Daniel the constable came and put him in the cage. He went with the constable to the potato pit in Thomas Ireland's garden and found it had been opened and 2 bushels of potatoes taken out. The potatoes in the cart match those in the pit. William Guy of Woburn, labourer - was watching with James White when he saw a dog cart drawn by Francis Smith come through the gate of James White's close. They tracked the cart towards Thomas Ireland's garden, then followed and overtook it. They found 2 bushels of potatoes worth 18d a bushel in 2 sacks. They found Thomas Ireland's pit had been opened and potatoes stolen. Ireland is very ill, has been confined to his bed for many weeks and is not capable of leaving it. Francis Smith - he found the potatoes and cart against the gate.

item

Smith, Francis,
White, James,
Guy, William,
Ireland, Thomas

WOBURN, stealing, potatoes