QSR1876/3/5/7/b

Depositions and examination - Thomas Janes, charged with stealing 4 bushels of mill offal value 2s 2d from Alfred John Smith at Houghton Regis on 15 May 1876

22 May 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

George Fensome of Houghton Regis – he is a gardener to Mr Brandreth. He had 4 bushels sent to Mr Smith’s mill from Mr Cook’s. He left the bran for Mr Smith to pay for the grinding. It came back last Friday 19th from the mill. The flour was brought to him but not the offal. He did not pay for the grinding. On Sunday 14th he saw Janes and asked him if his grist was done. Janes said “no” and that he would do it on Monday. Alfred John Smith of Houghton Regis – the handwriting in the book produced is Janes’s. There is an entry from Mr Cook, 13 May, G.Fensome, 4 bushels of wheat, bran”, meaning he is to grind the wheat for the bran. He has never been paid for the value of this bran, which is 2s 4d. He ground the wheat on Friday 19th himself. He has no entry of bran going to Janes’s premises on the 15th. Janes has no right to take anything from the mill without paying for it. [Cross-examined] Janes never mentioned that he was going to have Fensome’s bran. George Bright of Houghton Regis – he is a carter employed by Mr Smith. About 5.30 last Monday his cart was loaded with a sack of gristing bran from 4 bushels of wheat. He had no ticket with it. Janes said Mr Fensome had told him he was to have his bran and that he would make it all right as the grist was not quite done. He had to take it to Janes’ house. He set it against the back door. Janes said he had mentioned to the master that he was going to have the bran. They do not have a ticket when a man is going to have the gristing bran. [Cross-examined] Janes said it was bran. He understood that Janes was going to put the bran off Fensome’s wheat in place of it.

item

Janes, Thomas,
Smith, Alfred John,
Fensome, George,
Bright, George,
Brandreth,
Cook

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, wheat, gardener, carter, miller