QSR1854/1/5/36

Depositions of Josiah Brookbanks, gardener of Biggleswade and George Morley, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of Samuel Taylor Ilsley accused of stealing 6 bushels of potatoes.

30 November 1853

From: 1853 To: 1854

Josiah Brookbanks: a gardener residing in Biggleswade. On 22 of March he received information that his potato pit had been opened by the prisoner. He examined the pit and missed about 6 or 7 bushels of potatoes. He was present with the policeman when the potatoes were found at Christopher Ilsley’s house. Samuel Taylor Ilsley was taken into custody. A sample of potatoes was taken to compare with those left in the pit. The sample matched. He was present the following day when Ilsely said the potatoes belonged to Brookbanks. When the policeman had taken Samuel Taylor Ilsley to the shed, he had said the potatoes were his fathers. The father was taken to the shed and said they were his sons. The son heard the father said this and made no reply. The quantity was similar to those missed from the pit. The house was about 100 yards from the pit. He had no doubt they were his potatoes. PC George Morley: on 22 March he received information that Brookbanks had lost some potatoes. He went to the house of Samuel Ilsley and search for the potatoes. Ilsley was at home and said he had no potatoes except a bushel at his fathers which he was going to take to Royston market. He asked where his father lived and he took Morley to Edward G(?), his wife’s father’s house. Morley afterward found he had taken him to the wrong place and they then Samuel’s father’s house. In searching the house they found 6 or 7 bushels of potatoes in a hovel. He apprehended Samuel Ilsley. He took Samuel to where he had found the potatoes and his father came out. He asked to whom the potatoes belonged and Samuel’s father said that his son had brought them there just before dark. Samuel was present and did not deny it. On 5 November he heard Ilsley say on going into the barn on 22 March he found potatoes which had not been there they night before. He had later been pushing them up the road when a man named Arnold came and said he had stolen them from Brookbanks and had hidden them in Samuel Ilsley’s barn. Samuel Ilsley said he had taken them to his fathers and had meant to sell them as he did not know what to do with them. On 23 March he gave up the potatoes to Brookbanks in the presence of Morley. On the night of 22 March he took Samuel Ilsley into custody and locked him up. The next morning Ilsley told him he had found them in his own barn and had taken them to his fathers and intended to sell them on Royston market. Whilst he had been getting read to go to his fathers, Samuel Arnold came by and said he had taken them from Brookbanks. Ilsey was set at liberty and Brookbanks had his potatoes returned. He had intended to apprehend Arnold and saw him on the North Road. Arnold saw him and jumped over a hedge and ran off towards Hinxworth. He had kept away from the neighbourhood until lately. He apprehended Arnold on his return to the area and Arnold said he had run away that day as he thought Morley wanted him for rabbiting on Mr Smith’s ground at Edworth. He denied knowing about the potatoes. Statement of the accused: he was very sorry and had never been in such a case before. He would be glad to egt out of it and would never get involved with another.

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Ilsley, Samuel Taylor,
Brookbanks, Josiah,
Morley, George

BIGGLESWADE, stealing, potatoes, gardener