QSR1852/1/5/1

Depositions of Daniel Dumpleton, labourer of Leighton Buzzard, Ann Giles, wife John Giles of shoemaker of Leighton Buzzard and Thomas Worsley, police constable of Heath & Reach. In the case of Daniel Faunch, labourer of Leighton Buzzard, accused of stealing 5 bushels of potatoes.

27 October 1851

From: 1851 To: 1851

Daniel Dumpleton: a labourer of Leighton Buzzard. Daniel Faunch occupied the garden next but one to him. Dumpleton had some potatoes in his garden which he last saw on 11 October, safe in his pit. On 12 October, Ann Giles, his next door neighbour said she had seen Faunch in Dumpleton's garden. Dumpleton found his pit disturbed and at least 5 bushels of potatoes missing. On 12 October the accused was at the gate leading to Dumpleton's garden and said that he had heard Giles's dog barking and had gone to see if anyone was there. He moved the rest of his potatoes out of the pit into a cupboard at the side of his fireplace after he had been robbed. Ann Giles: wife of John, a shoemaker of Leighton Buzzard. She was up very late one night, washing, and at 2 o'clock in the morning on 12 October she went into her garden to hang some things up when she saw a sack on the floor. She examined it but it did not belong to her husband, she thought it strange it was there. She went back into the house, fastening the gate behind her. She went out again shortly after and the gate was open and the sack gone. She heard a noise and saw a man under the wall in Daniel Dumpleton's garden. She woke her husband and he went to see who it was, and she followed him. She saw Daniel Faunch in a neighbour’s garden. Her husband spoke to him and Faunch came went into their house with them. Next morning she told Dumpleton of the happenings. John Giles: he had been asleep when his wife came in and told him she had seen a man in Dumpleton's garden. He went out with the dog. He saw Faunch and asked him what the matter was. The prisoner came back into this house with him. Thomas Worsley: went to the prisoner’s house on 25 October and found potatoes in the flour bin. He then went to the prosecutor’s house and took a sample of potatoes from his cupboard and found they matched the type found in the flour bin. The accused said he had more of these 'white farmer' potatoes in his garden, but when Worsley search the garden he could find none. All the potatoes in the garden were either 'Pink Eyes' or 'Coopers'. Statement of the accused: said that he heard someone in his yard and went out to see who it was. He then saw Mr Giles, and heard the dog bark. He asked Mr Giles what was the matter. He stated he was innocent of stealing the potatoes and rather give him some than steal them.

item

Dumpleton, Daniel,
Giles, John,
Giles, Ann,
Worsley, Thomas

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, HEATH & REACH, stealing, potatoes, shoemaker