QSR1853/3/5/8

Depositions of George Handscomb, nurseryman of Leighton Buzzard, James Dimmock, labourer of Leighton Buzzard and Thomas Worsley, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of David Pantling accused of stealing a peck and a half of potatoes.

5 May 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

George Handscomb: a nurseryman who rented and occupied a piece of ground in Leighton Buzzard. There was about a bushel and a half of potatoes ploughed and lying on the surface of the land. On 30 April the potatoes were on the land but on 2 May he missed them. He knew nothing of the prisoner. His land was enclosed with no footpath through it. In consequence of the loss, James Dimmock, who lived in a nearby cottage said he had seen Pantling picking up the potatoes. James Dimmock: in the employment of George Handscombe. He lived in a cottage adjoining a field where potatoes had been ploughed up onto the land. On the morning of 1 May he saw the prisoner on the land seemingly picking something up. He was there an hour and half. He saw doing the same that afternoon. He said nothing to him and did not see him take anything away. There was a child with the prisoner. Next day he went to his master’s field and missed the potatoes. Thomas Worsley: from information received from the prosecutor he went to the prisoner’s house and found a sack with about a peck and a half of potatoes in it. The prisoner was in bed and asked about the potatoes, he said that he took them from the field. The prosecutor identified the potatoes as his.Statement of the accused: nothing to say

item

Pantling, David,
Handscomb, George,
Dimmock, James,
Worsley, Thomas

stealing, potatoes, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, nurseryman