QSR1879/2/5/16

Depositions and examination - John Wagstaff of Yielden, labourer, charged wtih stealing 4 lbs of linseed cake value 6d from Thomas Eads on 7 January 1879

7 March 1879

From: 1879 To: 1879

Thomas Eads of Yielden, farmer – he occupies a farm yard in the fields at Yielden where he keeps a number of young cattle. The place is protected by two cottages occupied by two labourers in his service. His shepherd Jacob White occupies one of them. One of the small barns there is used for chaff and seed cake for the cattle – about 40 lbs of cake is taken up every day, broken into small pieces for the cattle. On the morning of 8 January White communicated with him. A short time afterwards Wagstaff came to him on the farm and asked if White had said anything to him. He alluded to it having happened the night before. He said he was very sorry, but there was no road there and he had no business there whatever. He said he should enquire further into it. A few days afterwards he saw Wagstaff and said “I am afraid, John, this is too true”. The matter went on for two or three weeks. White came to him on 17 February and said they must have the matter cleared up, as Wagstaff had been calling him a liar. He sent for them and had them together at his house. He said to Wagstaff that if he would admit he was wrong he would say no more about it. Wagstaff then said that White was wrong. [Cross-examined] A man named Hodgkins lives at the Top Lodge on his farm. Wagstaff is a relation of Hodgkins. There is no road from Hodgkins’ house to Wagstaff’s through his farm premises. He had known Wagstaff all his life and knew nothing wrong of him before this. In January Wagstaff told him he had got a rabbit in his handkerchief. Wagstaff also said he had been up to Hodgkins to take him a rabbit. He also admitted he had a handkerchief in his hand when White saw him. Jacob White of Yielden, shepherd – he is shepherd to Mr Eads and lives at a cottage near the Field Farm premises, between the Top Lodge and the village. On the night of 7 January he went out into the farm yard about 7pm and all was right. He went out again soon after 9pm. He saw the barn door a little way open. He went to it and pulled it wide open. He saw a man standing inside the barn near the oil cake. That afternoon he had taken a sack of broken oil cake for the cows next morning. He called out twice, the man did not answer. The man came to the door and walked out by him into the yard. He saw who it was. At that time Wagstaff kept a cow. Wagstaff said he though there was a cow bad, which made him come into the yard. Wagstaff had a handkerchief in his left hand down by his side. He asked what Wagstaff had got in it. Wagstaff said nothing. He felt the handkerchief, took out some cake and showed it to Wagstaff, who said it was the first time he had done such a think and he would take it back – Wagstaff took it into the barn and emptied it into the bag. The bag was not tied up. Wagstaff said 6 or 7 times he hoped he would never speak about it. On 17 February he met Wagstaff at the house of Mr Eads and gave the same account he had given to Mr Eads on 8 January, though rather more full. Wagstaff said he had seen the door open and he thought there may be a cow in the barn. Mr Eads said that if Wagstaff did not acknowledge it to him he would summon him. Wagstaff denied the charge of taking the cake. John Wagstaff - "I am not guilty".

item

Wagstaff, John,
Eads, Thomas,
White, Jacob

YIELDEN, stealing, farmer, shepherd, cattle