Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1877/1/5/3/c
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - Joseph Chandler of Leighton Buzzard, labourer, charged with stealing 3 bushels of potatoes value 10s 6d from Charles Grace at Leighton Buzzard on 30 October 1876
  • Date free text
    29 November 1876
  • Production date
    From: 1876 To: 1877
  • Scope and Content
    Charles Grace of Leighton Buzzard, innkeeper – he is the landlord of the Kings Arms Inn and holds some land on Standbridge Road, Leighton Buzzard, He grew Victoria potatoes there this year. They were not quite true. He pitted the potatoes about 6 weeks ago. On 2 November he went to the field to open the pit. The pits were not moulded but were covered with wheat straw and potato tops. Charles Tebby was with him. They discovered the pits had already been opened and potatoes taken. He later found 3 other places from which potatoes had been taken, should say about 3 bushels. The potatoes produced are Victorias not quite true, resembling the pototoes in his pits in every particular. The other heaps in the field had not been interfered with. Charles Tebby of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – he has occasionally been employed by Charles Grace. About 6 weeks ago he dug some potatoes for him in Stanbridge Road. They were Victoria potatoes, not quite true. There was a Belgian Kidney or two among them. He pitted them in the field in 4 heaps. On 2 November he went with Mr Grace into his field to open the pits. On pulling the straw off one of the pits he found they had been disturbed and potatoes removed. They later discovered 4 places where potatoes had been taken. The samples produced are the same. James Lunniss, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard – on 17 November he searched Chandler’s house. Upstairs in the bedroom he found about 2 ½ bushels of potatoes lying uncovered in the corner of the room. There were some onions mixed with them and some broken wheat straw with them. In another corner of the room were about a peck of early Rose potato seedlings. The potatoes correspond with a sample from Grace’s pits. When Chandler was charged he said he had grown the potatoes in his own garden. Robert Underwood of Leighton Buzzard, sawyer – he occupies a cottage 2 doors from Chandler. Their gardens adjoin and are in front of the house. Chandler has not grown 3 bushels of Victoria potatoes in his garden this year. He grew some forward potatoes – red ones he thinks. He saw Chandler dig them about hay time. There were not many. Chandler has not planted any late potatoes but filled his garden with green stuff. He put the green stuff in during the hot weather. Martin Green of Leighton Buzzard, labourer – on 30 October between 5 and 6pm he was in the Standbridge Road coming towards Leighton. Near Mr Grace’s field there he met Chandler. Chandler passed him. It was getting dark. William Webster of Leighton Buzzard, market gardener – he has had experience in growing various kinds of potatoes. The potatoes produced are of the same sort. They are both Victoria with a few Belgian Kidney mixed with them. Joseph Chandler – he has nothing to say.
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