QSR1841/2/5/17

Depositions and examination - Matthew Bailey

1 April 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

Charles Giddings - he resides with his mother Frances Giddings, widow, who is a small farmer and wheelwright at Silsoe. He manages her business. On Sunday 28 March he went into his workshop and saw a window had been broken open. He did not miss anything from the shop. The shop communicates with the barn. There was dressed wheat in sacks in the barn and the barn door was locked. An entry had been made through the shop, and 2 bushels and 3 pecks of wheat had been stolen out of one sack and another sack containing 1 bushel of wheat was gone. He found wheat strewed on the ground from the workshop in the direction of Matthew Bailey's house. He went there, saw Bailey and told him the wheat was stolen. Bailey said he had been to Mr Eve to tell him of some wheat being in his barn, and that he had locked up the barn with a lock Mr Eve had lent him. Bailey opened the door and he saw immediately it was his mother's wheat. He called the policeman James Wild who took the wheat away. Bailey said he did not know how the wheat got into his barn. James Wild, policeman no.10 - he went with Giddings to Bailey's barn. He found the sacks and wheat now produced which Giddings said was his mother's. He took Bailey into custody. When they had walked a short distance Bailey said "well you won't have me now" and ran away towards Wrest Park. He pursued Bailey and called to a person to shut the Park gate. Bailey turned to the right and jumped over the wall. He followed and retook him. Richard Eve, farmer at Silsoe - Bailey works for him. Bailey came to his house about 8am on the Sunday morning and said he had found some wheat in his barn. He said he barn was not locked at night. He [Eve] lent him a lock and key to put on his barn and told him to lock it up until he could go and see it. He did go to see it and met Giddings, who said his mother's wheat was stolen the night before. Bailey said he did not know how the wheat got into his barn. He went to bad at 10pm and did not get up the next morning until his daughter told him there was some wheat in the barn. Matthew Bailry - says he is innocent of the job. He was in bed at home all night. His daughter first told him the wheat was in the barn and there was a little spill about the barn door. He went and told his master Mr Eve.

item

Bailey, Matthew,
Giddings, Charles,
Giddings, Frances,
Wild, James,
Eve, Richard

SILSOE, Wrest Park, stealing, wheat