QSR1871/4/5/5-6

Depositions and examinations - James Gazley and George Young, charged with stealing a sack containing corn of the value of 6s from James Tooley of Henlow

26 July 1871

From: 1871 To: 1871

James Tooley of Holwell, farmer – on Tuesday 18 July he delivered a quantity of corn to Henlow station. From information received he went to Henlow Station that evening about 6pm and the station master showed him a bushel of wheat he believed to be his – it was nearly red wheat with a small quantity of white. Compared with the wheat left in his barn it appears to be the same. Young was employed for him that day delivering wheat at Henlow Station. Gazeley attends to a coal yard at the Station. In the evening Gazeley game to him at his house and said it was a queer job about the wheat. He [Tooley] said he knew little or nothing about it as he had only just heard about it. Gazeley said when he was in the wagon helping to unload the first load of corn Young asked if he had any poultry. Gazeley told Young he had some but had bad luck and did not have many. Young asked if Gazeley wanted any chicken corn – he said he would like ½ bushel or 3 pecks. When the wagon came the second time it brought a quantity which Gazeley took out of the wagon and put in his hut. Gazeley asked what he was to give Young for it. Young said he did not know, his master was gone to market and knew nothing about it. Gazeley gave Young 1s 6d for it and wished he never had. It is not true that he [Tooley] was at market. He was on his other farm ¼ mile away. He never told Young to sell any corn for him. Last night, 25 July, Young came to his house about 8pm. He asked Young what he wanted. Young said he was in such trouble and wanted to tell the truth about the wheat job. Young said he took it out of the barn thinking it was a lot of offal barley he could give to his horse. When Young found it was good wheat he did not know what to do with it and asked Gazeley if he would take it. Gazeley said he did not think he dared. They walked together by the side of the wagon and Gazeley said he had taken the wheat out. They then went to the Bird in Hand public house and Gazely gave Young 1s 6d for it. [Cross-examination on behalf of Gazeley] – he has known Gazeley 20 years. He does not know he keeps poultry. He may have sold Gazeley corn but does not remember. Young is not employed by him to take orders but may have done so, but he does not think it likely he has ever taken an order from Gazeley. He thought Gazeley was a respectable man but does not say so now. He does not remember that Young had ever received money for him but he may have done so. [Additional statement] When Young came to him last night he said that Gazeley came over and said to him that if he would take it on himself he would give him anything and would take care of Young’s wife and family whilst he suffered for it. John Gregory of Henlow, station master – on 18 July he saw Mr Tooley’s wagon at the station. It was unloaded except one sack partly full of corn which was in the front part of the bed of the wagon. He went into the office to give Young the receipt note for the grain he had delivered for Mr Tooley. When he came out 5 minutes later the sack was out of the wagon. He then went to Gazeley’s box hut and saw the sack. When he went into his office Gazeley was close to the wagon which was near the box hut. When he came out he did not see Gazeley. [Cross-examination] The box hut is where Gazeley’s master keeps his books and accounts. After about an hour and a half he saw the sack and corn again. He can swear it was not taken from Gazeley’s hut in the meantime as he set his wife to watch. He noticed the sack particularly because he saw it was not included in the consignment note and he was anxious to see what became of it. Frank Chambers of Henlow, railway porter – he remembers Young coming with Mr Tooley’s wagon on 18 July. He saw it unloaded except the sack now produced. There was about a bushel in it but he did not look to see what it contained. He went into the station office, looked at the consignment note and then told the station master about it. Mr Tooley’s wagon came twice that day. He did not see the first unloaded. Gazeley is in Mr Harris’ employ as a coal merchant and is not employed by the Midland Railway. Gazeley has nothing to do with loading or unloading goods. Lucy Gregory of Henlow, wife of John Gregory – from what her husband said to her she watched Gazeley and a wagon. She saw Gazeley get into the wagon and remove something from the front to the back. He then got out, looked up and down the yard and over some palisades as if looking to see if anyone was there. He then took a bag out and took it into his box hut. She asked Gazeley if he had seen her children, but said nothing more. She watched the hut to see that the bag was not removed until the policeman came. George Case of Henlow, police constable – from information received he went to Henlow Station and tried the hut door where Gazeley keeps his books. It was locked. He went to Gazeley and asked him to unlock the door. He went in and found the sack with the corn in it in the corner, covered over by another sack with Gazeley’s coat thrown over it. He brought it out of the hut and untied it in Gazeley’s presence. Gazeley said if it was his he may have it. He said he believed it was the property of Mr Tooley. Gazeley said Young brought it there that morning when he came in the wagon, that he told Young when he came the first time to bring him some chicken corn, and that he never looked at it so did not know what it was. He [Case] then went in search of Young, took him into custody and charged him. Young said he knew nothing about it. He brought Young to Gazeley who identified him as the man who brough the wheat. Gazeley said he gave Young 1s 6d for it. Young said “I know nothing about it”. On 19th he apprehended Gazeley who said he knew nothing of it any further than that he gave 1s 6d for it. James Gazley – he is not guilty. George Young – he does not want to say anything except that Gazeley never spoke to him about no corn the first time he was there. Gazeley did not know anything at all about it until he told him he had got some.

item

Gazley, James,
Young, George,
Tooley, James,
Gregory, John,
Chambers, Frank,
Gregory, Lucy,
Case, George

HENLOW, HOLWELL, stealing, wheat, farmer, station master, railway porter, police constable, coal merchant, transportation, Henlow Bird in Hand