QSR1841/1/5/21

Depositions and examination - Samuel Hill, labourer, charged with stealing peas from Ruth Tooley, whose farm business is conducted by Francis Tooley

8 December 1840

From: 1840 To: 1841

Francis Tooley of Barton - his brother James Tooley watched Samuel Hill leaving the barn at about 5 o'clock on 7 December and asked him to go with him to search Hill. They overtook him going across the field towards his house and demanded the peas he had taken from the barn. He took peas from his pockets and from a handkerchief he had concealed in his small clothes. James Tooley - as he was passing the barn at about 6am on 7 December he heard someone fanning peas in the barn and saw the fan drop from the hands of Smauel Hill. He asked his brother Francis if he had ordered Hill to fan up the peas and he said he had not. That afternoon he hid in the cart hovel and saw Hill take some peas and put them into a handkerchief between 4 and 5pm. He concealed the handkerchief among the unthreshed peas. When he left the barn at about 5.30 he saw Hill put the peas into his pockets. Hill left the barn, locked it, and put the key in the house. He asked his brother Francis to come with him to search Hill. When they overtook Hill he gave them peas from his pocket but denied having any more until challenged with having more in a handkerchief. Hill said he knew he had done wrong and hoped they would forgive him. Samuel Hill - nothing to say.

item

Tooley, Francis,
Tooley, Ruth,
Tooley, James,
Hill, Samuel

Barton, labourer, stealing, peas