QSR1870/2/5/7-8

Depositions and examinations - Thomas Walker and Walter Grummett, both of Clophill, labourers, charged wtih stealing 5 bushels of potatoes from William Armstrong of Beadlow Farm, Clophill

4 April 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

Henry Bailey, police constable stationed at Clophill – on the night of 1 April about 11.45pm he was on duty at Clophill. He was on the road between Clophill and Beadlow Farm and met the two prisoners coming in the direction of Clophill. Each had a sack on his back containing something bulky. He stopped them and asked what they had got. After a while they said they had potatoes which they claimed to have bought but refused to say where they had them from. He said he would take them into custody. They both threw down their sacks and said “I’ll be b---d if I carry them any further”. Both sacks contained potatoes, about 4 or 5 bushels altogether. He took the prisoners on to the nearest house about 500 yards from where he first saw them. He left the 2 sacks of potatoes on the grass by the side of the road. About 15 minutes later William Dawes came to the house and delivered him the two sacks of potatoes. He took the men to the lock up at Clophill and left the sacks and potatoes at his house. The next morning he took samples from the potatoes. He went to William Armstrong’s farm (Beadlow Farm) and saw the foreman Thomas Odell who said they were similar to his potatoes. Odell checked and found some potatoes were missing. Samples of Mr Armstrong’s potatoes corresponded with the potatoes from the sacks. Edward Goodall of Clophill, labourer – he is employed by William Armstrong at Beadlow Farm. On Friday 1 April he had been setting some potatoes. He assisted in filling 2 carts with potatoes some in sacks and some loose to be ready for the following morning. They were all straw potatoes. On Saturday 2 April from what the foreman said he looked at the carts and there were some missing, some from the sacks and some from the loose potatoes. The 4 samples of potatoes produced are all of the same sort. William Dawes of Maulden, gardener – on Friday night 1s April he was on his way home between Beadlow Farm and Clophill. He saw 2 sacks filled with potatoes by the side of the road. He put them in his cart and from what he had heard took them to the house of George Garner. He met Garner on the road with a wheelbarrow. He left them at Garner’s house for PC Bailey. Thomas Odell of Beadlow Farm, Clophill, foreman to a farmer there – he lives at the farm. On 1st April he was setting potatoes in Mr Armstrong’s field. They were all straw potatoes. On that night 2 carts were loaded with potatoes ready for the next morning. From what was said to him the next morning he examined the carts and inquired of the man on the farm whether any potatoes were missing. He found about 5 bushels were missing. He has no doubt all the samples produced are the same potatoes. The value of the 5 bushels of potatoes is 10s. Thomas Walker – “we bought and paid for the potatoes, straw potatoes” Walter Grummett – “I know we bought and paid for all the potatoes we had”

item

Walker, Thomas,
Grummett, Walter,
Armstrong, William,
Bailey, Henry,
Goodall, Edward,
Dawes, William,
Odell, Thomas

CLOPHILL, MAULDEN, Clophill Beadlow Farm, stealing, potatoes, foreman, gardener, police constable