QSR1882/3/5/2

Depositions of William Clarke, farmer of Cranfield, Thomas Smith, farmer of Wootton, George Mooring, police constable of Cranfield and Walter Clarke, a minor under the age of 21 years. In the case of James Faulkner accused of stealing an iron plough winch.

25 May 1882

From: 1882 To: 1882

Walter Clarke: lived at Cranfield with his brother William, who was a farmer there. On 18 May he was in one of his brothers fields about 9pm and there was a plough in the field with an iron winch. Next day, PC Mooring showed the same article to him. William Clarke: a farmer of Cranfield. On 18 May he had a plough in his field, with an iron winch in a socket on it. Early next morning it had gone. He advised PC Mooring and went with him to Wootton to Smith’s farm. There found the plough there. There prisoner was working on the farm. The prisoner would pass the plough in the field on his way to work. The prisoner said it was not Clarke’s winch but he would rather pay for it than have any bother over it. Thomas Smith: a farmer of Wootton. The prisoner worked for him. On the 18 May the prisoner said his father had some winches and he would bring some from home. The prisoner came to work on 19th with a winch in his pocket. After they had ploughed for some time he took the winch out of his pocket and stuck in on the plough and used it for ploughing. Smith had made no arrangement to pay for it. George Mooring: a police constable stationed at Cranfield. On 189 may he went with William Clarke to Smith’s farm in search of a plough winch. He found the prisoner at work on the farm and told him of the lost winch. He asked the prisoner if he knew anything of it and the prisoner replied no. He asked if the prisoner had ploughed that day, and he replied he had and had brought with him his father’s winch. Clarke identified the winch as his. The prisoner was charged and said he would pay for it, if he would let him go.Statement of the accused: he had been going to bring the things from his father that morning but had forgotten them. He saw this winch and took it, intending to bring it back at night. He was willing to pay for it.

item

Faulkner, James,
Clarke, William,
Clarke, Walter,
Smith, Thomas,
Mooring, George

CRANFIELD, WOOTTON, farmer, stealing, agricultural implements