QSR1843/3/5/27

Depositions and examination - Joseph Hide charged with stealing a quart of peas and beans from Joseph Kingston

26 May 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

Charles Waller of Chalton in Toddington, labourer - he is a hired servant to Joseph Kingston as horsekeeper - on Monday 15 May he was looking after the horses at a homestead of his master's about 3/4 of a mile from his house. Joseph Hide was there. Hide told him there wasa band of music going by. He went out but did not see or hear any music and returned immediately. He looked through a hole in the boards into the barn - Hide had a piece of rag with something tied up in it, coming from the direction of a sack containing peas and beans. Hide placed the rag with its contents in a basket belonging to him in the barn. His master came soon afterwards and he told him what he had seen. Joseph Kingston of Chalton in Toddington, farmer - Hide was employed by him as a labourer on his farm and was at work for him in the barn mentioned by Waller. There were some sacks of beans and peas there which he had bought for his sheep. On 15 May from what he was told by Waller he went to Hide's basket where he found some beans and peas tied up in an old handkerchief. He asked Hide what he had there and Hide replied "you know" and asked him to forgive him this once as it was the first time. He called Waller in to the barn and asked him to tell him all he knew about Joe Hide. Waller told him that he had seen Hide take some beans and peas on the 10th of May. He said to Hide this was not the first time so he could not believe him, "you may have robbed me a hundred times". Hide had worked for him for 5 or 6 years. There was about a quart of peas and beans mixed, worth 2d. Joseph Hide - hopes he will let him off as easy as he can. He never made a common practice of robbing Kingston though he took those peas. It was rather tempting and he had got a sow at that time. He did not see the end of the thing as he does now.

item

Hide, Joseph,
Kingston, Joseph

TODDINGTON, Chalton, stealing, peas, beans, farmer, horsekeeper