QSR1853/4/5/11,12

Depositions of James Battams, baker of Leighton Buzzard and Thomas Worsley, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Thomas Thompson & Jesse Thompson accused of stealing a bushel of potatoes.

13 September 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

James Battams: had a pit of potatoes in an enclosed garden at Leighton. He saw they were safe on the evening of 12 September. He had partly covered the pit with rye and wheat. He was called up by the Constable Worsley at about 1 o’clock in the morning. The constable asked if eh had a pit of potatoes and he said he had. He went to the pit with him. The straw had been moved and some of the potatoes were gone. He had employed both the prisoners and they knew him to have potatoes but he had not seen them about the garden. Thomas Worsley: whilst on duty he saw the 2 prisoners coming up Sandy Lane from the direction of the prosecutor’s garden. Police Constable Olden, who was with him, stopped Thomas Thompson and he stopped the other. Thomas had a sack on his back and when asked what he had got, he refused to say. He took the prisoners into custody and examined the bag which contained about a bushel of potatoes. He compared potatoes in the sack with those in Battams pit and found them to match. He also found traces for rye and straw, which has been used to cover the pit, inside the sack. Statements of the accused - Thomas Thompson: they had been in the field and were coming up the footpath when they saw a sack by the side of the path. He threw it over his shoulder and saw going to take it home. He did not know what was in it. He had not been on Battams land for 3 months. Jesse Thompson: nothing to say

item

Thompson, Thomas,
Thompson, Jesse,
Battams, James,
Worsley, Thomas

stealing, potatoes, baker, LEIGHTON BUZZARD