QSR1852/4/5/1

Depositions of Joshua Clark, labourer of Renhold, Samuel Taylor, labourer of Clapham, Benjamin Crisp, farmer of Clapham and Thomas Tillyard, police constable of St Paul, Bedford. In the case of Thomas Treadwell, accused of stealing a scythe.

19 October 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Joshua Clark: a labourer of Renhold. Treadwell came to his father's house at Renhold on 11 July and asked if they had begun to hay. He was told yes and Treadwell said he wanted to get a scythe from somewhere. He asked if they were at work in the meadow. Clark supposed he meant the meadow of their master George Boston. His father said yes. Clark and his father had been mowing the meadow the previous day and had left about half past 7. Clark had left a scythe within the field, set amongst the bushes. On returning to his work on 12 July Clark missed his scythe. Samuel Taylor: Treadwell brought a scythe to Clapham Park on 15 July, where Taylor had gone to mow. They went to the field together. On the following afternoon, Treadwell told him there had been 2 scythes lost from Renhold. Treadwell told him to say nothing of that. Treadwell sold a scythe to Mr Crisp on the morning of 16 July. it had been the same scythe brought to the field by Treadwell the previous day. Benjamin Crisp: a farmer of Clapham. He had employed Treadwell for 2 days. On leaving Treadwell asked him to buy his scythe. Treadwell wanted 5 shillings for it. Treadwell said he had bought the scythe from Mr Kilpins. Crisp paid him 5 shillings for the scythe and for the work Treadwell had done for him. Samuel Taylor was handed the scythe to lock up. Thomas Tillyard: apprehended the prisoner. The prisoner denied selling a scythe to Mr crisp and nobody had seen him steal it.

item

Treadwell, Thomas,
Clark, Joshua,
Taylor, Samuel,
Crisp, Benjamin,
Tillyard, Thomas,
Boston, George

RENHOLD, CLAPHAM, St. Paul Bedford, scythe, stealing