Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1853/2/5/9-10/b
  • Title
    Depositions of William Roberts, bailiff of Kempston, William Hootton, labourer of Kempston, James Ames, labourer of Kempston and George Cheney, police constable of Kempston. In the case of William Tompkins & George Tompkins accused of stealing 2 bushels of barley.
  • Date free text
    5 March 1853
  • Production date
    From: 1853 To: 1853
  • Scope and Content
    William Roberts: bailiff to Henry Littledale esquire and resident at Kempston. On 26 February, William Tompkins was threshing for Mr Littledale. In consequence of information received, on 4 March he went to George Tompkins's house. He searched the house and found 2 or 3 bushels of barley in a sack. Examination of a sample of this barley by Sergeant Cheney showed it corresponded with the barley in Mr Littledale's barn. George Tompkins had worked from Mr Littledale digging gravel on 26 February. The pit he was working at was 300 yards from the barn. William Hootton: on 26 February he saw a barrow about 50 yards from George Tompkins house on the public path. George Tompkins was near it and a great deal worse for drink. There was some barley straw on top of the barrow, a top coat and some barley in a sack. He was told the barrow belonged to George Tompkins so he wheeled it to his home and put the things into his barn. He saw a little barley run out of the sack. James Ames: worked at the same farm as William Tompkins. On 26 February, George Tompkins asked him for some straw and he said to William Tompkins to tie him a bit of straw up. George Tompkins said he had asked Mr Roberts for a bit of straw many times. He saw the straw in the wheelbarrow but did not look to see if the barrow contained anything else. Then prisoners went away together from the barn with the barrow but he did not notice which wheeled the barrow away. George Cheney: he accompanied Mr Roberts to George Tompkins house to search from some barley. George said that they were at liberty to search. They found some undressed barley. Tompkins aid he had come by it honestly, and he bought it off of gleaners, but he said he did not recollect who he had bought it from as it was sometime ago. Cheney took him into custody.
  • Level of description
    item
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