QSR1870/2/5/3/b

Depositions - William Burr charged with stealing 3 bushels of wheat from Hannah Gilbert, his mistress.

26 March 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

John Gilbert of Wilshamstead, poulterer - he lives with Hannah Gilbert and knows William Burr. Burr worked for him for some time. At the beginning of last February he had some wheat in his barn at Wilshamstead. It was threshed and lying in a heap, about 2 loads. He missed some of it from time to time. He spoke to his brother’s wife. On 7 February he went from home leaving Burr in charge of the premises – he always had charge of the barn. He got home between 10 and 11. His brother’s wife told him something as a consequence of which he went into his rick yard. He searched for a sack but did not find one. Burr has no business to take wheat from the barn to the rick yard. He examined the heap and missed about 2 loads. On 22 February he saw some wheat at the mill at Bedford, which he believes was the same kind that he missed. The policeman took a sackful. Ann Gilbert, wife of Ebenezer Gilbert of Wilden, farmer and poulterer – she wsa with Hannah Gilbert at Wilshamstead on 9 February. She saw William Burr, who came to the house between 4 and 5. She asked if he had fed all the stock in the yard and he said he had. She asked for the key. Burr left the house and went into the barn. When he came out he had a sack on his back, apparently containing 2 or 3 bushels, and went to the rick yard. Burr came back in about 10 minutes, without the sack. Burr gave her the key. He went towards the rick yard gate where he left. She told John Gilbert what she had seen. She saw him with the sack after he had said he had fed the stock. There were no cattle in the rick yard. Stephen Noble of 47 St John's Street, St John, Bedford, miller – he works for Mr Harrison the miller. About 6 weeks age Burr brought 3 bushels of wheat to the mill. John Gilbert and the police constable came and looked at it. It was not untied until the policeman came. He thinks Burr was the man who brought that load. Thomas Batchelor of Wilshamstead, police constable – he went with John Gilbert to Mr Harrison’s mill on 22 February. He was shown some wheat by Noble and took a sample of it. He had previously taken a sample from Mr Gilbert’s barn. He saw Burr the next week. He asked Burr if he had heard anything about the wheat that had been lost. Burr said he bought the wheat he took to the mill from John Bennett. He had not said anything to Burr about finding wheat at the mill.

item

Burr, William,
Gilbert, Ann,
Gilbert, Ebenezer,
Gilbert, Hannah,
Gilbert, John,
Noble, Stephen,
Batchelor, Thomas,
Bennett, John,
Harrison

WILSHAMSTEAD, WILDEN, Bedford St.John, Bedford St John's Street, stealing, wheat, farmers, poulterers, millers, MILLS