QSR1853/2/5/6

Depositions of William Bigg the elder, labourer of Maulden, Daniel Richardson, butcher of Flitton, William Hillyard, police constable of Ampthill and James Worsley, police constable of Ampthill. In the case of William Bigg the younger accused of stealing a bushel of potatoes.

22 March 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

William Bigg the elder: a labourer of Maulden. He had some land in Flitton and on that land was a potato pit. On 27 March he found the pit had been disturbed. He traced footmarks in the snow from the gate and was sure the marks had been made by his son’s shoes. His son lived with him and had been out the night before and not returned until 12 or 1 o'clock. A sack used for lying on the bed, he been missed too. He asked his son of it and his son said he knew nothing of it as he had been in bed. He also asked of the potatoes, but his son made no answer. The potatoes produced by Constable Hillyard were his property and his son had no right to go to the potato pit. They lived together but were not partners in anything. Daniel Richardson: a butcher living in Flitton. On 21 March the prisoner was at his house and asked him to lend him 2 pence. Richardson refused. The prisoner then asked if he would buy a bushel of seed potatoes. They agreed a price and Bigg left the house. He brought the potatoes over to Richardson that evening. Richardson paid him. Bigg went, leaving behind the sack. Next morning Richardson’s wife told him that the prisoner had returned and enquired after the sack and took it away with him. William Hillyard: by the direction of Sergeant Bates he went to Daniel Richardson’s home in search of the potatoes. Richardson produced the potatoes from the barn. James Worsley: as directed by Sergeant Bates he apprehended the prisoner at Flitton. The prisoner said he would tell the truth about it and asked if he thought his father would prosecute. Bigg then said he had sold the potatoes to Daniel Richardson. Asked what he had done with the sack, he at first said he would not tell, but later told Worsley he had left it at the blacksmith's in Flitton.Statement of the accused - William Bigg the younger: said that he did fetch a bushel of potatoes away from his fathers pit and had sold then to Daniel Richardson.

item

Bigg, William,
Richardson, Daniel,
Hillyard, William,
Worsley, James

stealing, potatoes, FLITTON, AMPTHILL, MAULDEN, butcher