QSR1841/1/5/3-4

Depositions - Thomas Buckingham and George Harris charged with stealing stubble

23 October 1840

From: 1840 To: 1841

Daniel Davis of Luton, farmer - on Thursday 22 October from information received he went to Stockings field in Luton. He missed several heaps of cut stubble and a quantity taken from other heaps. He traced the stubble through other fields to Hog Hall where the prisoners live. He fetched Booth the constable and they went to Buckingham's house. In the barn they found a quantity of stubble crammed into a sort of scaffolding in the roof. John Booth, constable of Luton - went with Davis and found the stubble with him. He took Buckingham into custody and accused him of stealing the stubble. Buckingham admitted he had taken it. He had asked to buy some from Davis who had refused - if Davis had sold him some he would not have taken it and he was very sorry. He then went back to Hog Hall and searched a barn in the occupation of George Harris. It was locked - Harris's wife reluctantly gave him the key. He found a quantity of stubble and apprehended Harris. Harris said he and Buckingham were together in it, that it was a bad job and they must get through it as well as they could. When he went to take the stubble into his possession that morning he found most of it had been removed from Buckingham's barn.

item

Buckingham, Thomas,
Harris, George,
Booth, John,
Davis, Daniel

LUTON, Luton fields, farmer, constable, stealing, straw