QSR1842/3/5/54

Depositions - James Cook charged with stealing oats

30 April 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

John Ginger of Whipsnade, farmer - about a month ago his ploughman George Byrchmore told him he had found about 4 bushels of oats in a sack hidden in his caving hole, and that they had been there for about a fortnight and then been taken away. From information he received from Edward Grace that some more oats had been found concealed in the caving hole on the 28 April he told George Byrchmore that he and Edward Grace should watch them as soon as Grace returned from an errand. Byrchmore went out and on his return said the oats were gone. On Thursday Edward Grace told him some more oats were hidden in the caving hole. He desired him and Byrchmore to watch them which they did. About 2am they called him and said they had found James Cook in the meadow and saw him in the caving hole. Cook offered to pay him for the oats he had lost if he would forgive him. He asked Cook if he would tell him who the receiver was and he would show him as much favour as he could. Cook said he could not tell as he did not know him. There was a board off the caving hole through which Cook got in. The caving hole is a lean to to the barn. Edward Grace - George Byrchmore had told him some oats had been hid in the caving hole some time back and taken away by someone. On Saturday 23 April his master set Cook to dress some oats for the horses after he had finished his work. At about 9 or 10pm he went to see if any oats had been hidden in the caving hole. He found about 4 bushels tied up in a sack. He then went into the house and told his master. His master then sent him on an errand and on his return told him the sack was taken away. On Thursday 28 April George Byrchmore told him he had found a quantity hidden in the caving hole tied up ni two sacks. He and Byrchmore watched the sacks and at about 2am on Friday morning Cook came and got into the caving hole. Cook saw him and walked out. They then went up to him and took him to his master's house. He heard Cook say to his master that if he would forgive him he would pay for the oats. George Byrchmore - he works for Mr Ginger. Last Thursday he found 2 sacks of oats in the caving hole. He and Edward Grace watched them. He saw Cook creep into the caving hole. He did not see him do anything. He got up and Grace went out and told the prisoner to come out. They took Cook into the house. He heard Cook say he had put the last quantity in to the caving hole.

item

Cook, James,
Ginger, John,
Grace, Edward,
Byrchmore, George

WHIPSNADE, stealing, oats, farmer, ploughman