QSR1853/1/5/15

Depositions of James Webb, labourer of Cranfield, William Lankester, labourer, James Billington, labourer and Edward Cook, labourer, all of Cranfield. In the case of William Seamark accused of stealing 3 spades, a shovel and 3 other draining tools

25 November 1852

From: 1852 To: 1853

James Webb: in April he was working for Mr James Ashwell of Holcut on his farm. He had been draining some land and had a quantity of draining tools which he left in the field overnight. On this returning next day, they had gone. He made enquiries but could learn nothing. The prisoner was working on the same farm, although not in the same field and he said he had not seen them. He advised the police at Cranfield and Woburn of his loss. He did not see the tools again until he went with Constable Flint to the prisoners house at Cranfield and there found a spade and shovel in the back place adjoining the premises. He knew these to be part of his missed tools. The spades had been borrowed by Webb from William Lankester and he had since paid him back for the loss. He went with the constable to where the prisoner was working and asked the prisoner where the draining spade was. It was retrieved from a hay stack. William Lankester: in April he lent James Webb a spade which Webb subsequently lost. Webb paid him for the spade. The spade now produced is identified by Lankester as the one he lent Webb. Charles Flint: Webb came to him in April and informed him of the loss of some draining tools. On 18 November he went with Webb to the prisoner’s house in Cranfield and found a spade and shovel behind a quantity of wood. He then went with Webb to Holcutt to Mr Ashwell's, where the prisoner was working. He asked the prisoner for the draining tool and he said it was under a haystack in a corner of a field. The prisoner said he had bought it from a man in Newport but did not know his name. He said he had found the shovel and spade.Statement of the accused: he bought the tool and was quite innocent of the job. He had marked the tool.

item

Seamark, William,
Webb, James,
Lankester, William,
Billington, James,
Cook, Edward

CRANFIELD, Holcott, stealing, spade