QSR1854/1/5/16

Depositions of Richard Jepps, labourer of Shillington, PC Daniel Hazzard, stationed at Shillington and Enoch Farrow, labourer of Shillington. In the case of Edward Haddington accused of stealing a peck of barley and wheat meal.

6 December 1853

From: 1853 To: 1854

Enoch Farrow: he was labourer in the employment of David Simkins, a farmer of Shillington. The prisoner was also in his master’s employ. On 6 December he had been in a barn where the meal was kept to feed the pigs. He saw the prisoner come to the door and he called out his name, but he did not answer him. The prisoner then came inside and called his name again; but again Farrow made no reply. The prisoner went to the meal tub and put his hand into it. He afterwards went to the barley bin and took out a measure. He then returned to the meal and took a measure and then another measure from another tub. A man by the name of Richard Jepps was with Farrow the whole time. The prisoner took the measure back to the barley bin and left it there. Haddington put the bag with the meal inside under his smock and went away. Farrow informed his master of what had taken place the next morning. He did not tell him that same night as he was at Hitchin. The prisoner was had nothing to do with feeding the pigs. The measure was a peck measure. The prisoner was a thresher and had no business in the barn. He was sure the prisoner had taken something from the tubs and put it in a bag under his smock. Richard Jepps: an employee of David Simkins and he had been present in the barn with the last witness on 6 December. The prisoner came to the door and called out “Enoch” he afterwards went into the barn and called out “Enoch” again. No answer was returned to him. It was nearly dark but he was sure it was the prisoner. He saw the prisoner put his hand in the meal tub and then he went to the barley tub and took out a peck measure. He returned to the meal tub and took a measure from there and then another from the Ren Dan (?) tub. The prisoner had a bag with him and put the stuff into it. He then returned the measure to the barley tub. He put the bag under his smock and left. Jepps had been close enough to touch the prisoner. PC Daniel Hazzard: he went to the prisoner’s house on 7 December and told him the charge. Hazzard looked in a bin in the house and found meal. Haddington said his son had bought it from Mr Elmes. Statement of the accused: he had taken nothing off the ground. His son had bought barley and had it ground at Shillington Mill and put it into where the other was. He used to mix it up for his pig.

item

Haddington, Edward,
Simkins, David,
Hazzard, Daniel,
Farrow, Enoch

SHILLINGTON, farmer, stealing, barley, wheat