QSR1841/3/5/6

Depositions against John Ward alias Wade, charged with stealing a quantity of drawed straws

13 April 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

William Crawley of Luton, farmer - John Ward is tasker to his mother Sarah Crawley who occupies a farm at Little Bramingham in Luton. Ward has the liberty of drawing straws. When Ward tells him he has done so he weighs the straws and Ward pays him. The previous morning Ward paid him for 13 lbs of drawed straws. He suspected all was not right and told his brother to watch Ward. Thomas Crawley - his brother asked him to watch Ward and see what straws he took away. He saw Ward go out of the barn about 2.30pm with 2 bundles of drawed straws. He went out on the other side of the yard and met Ward in the close. He asked Ward how many straws he had. Ward said he supposed 15 lbs. He said there must be more than that. Ward said maybe 30. He told Ward he should not have the biggest bundle. Ward said he would take them both back again and took them back to the barn. He said Ward may have the little bundle as he had paid for them. He weighed the large bundle afterwards and it weighed 26 lbs.

item

Ward, John,
Wade, John,
Crawley, William,
Crawley, Thomas

stealing, straw, LUTON, Little Bramingham