QSR1854/4/5/1

Depositions of James Pratt, labourer of Biggleswade and Samuel Wallis, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of William Thompson accused of stealing 10 pound in weight of rags.

29 July 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

James Pratt: a labourer working for Mr John Neal at Biggleswade. On 16 June he had been at work for his master hoeing potatoes in a field. On going home about 4pm he saw the prisoner picking up rags, which lay for manure, in one of his masters fields. The prisoner picked them up and bout them in a sack. He asked his master who was in the adjoining field and told him what was going on. When the prisoner heard Pratt call he began to move off. Pratt told the prisoner he would stop him if he did not wait but Thompson said that if Pratt did not get out of the way he would knock him down. Thompson said some men had given him leave to collect the rags. Pratt said “here comes the man they belong to” and emptied the sack. He believed the prisoners name to be Smith and told his master so. He let him go and said he should have him up and punish him for it. He then collected the rags and took them to his master. He had not seen the prisoner since until the previous night. He then gave the information to the police. The rags were worth about 6 pence. PC Samuel Wallis: on 28 July he apprehended the prisoner at Biggleswade and told him of the charge. The prisoner said he knew he had the rags. Statement of the accused: nothing to say except he only had rags.

item

Pratt, James,
Wallis, Samuel,
Thompson, William,
Neal, John

BIGGLESWADE, stealing