QSR1844/3/5/38-40

Depositions - James Cherry, William Clarke and William Hinds

20 June 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

John Williams of Luton, builder – he bought some timber at a sale in Deadmonsey Wood in the parish of Whipsnade. He sent a timeber carriage and cart with his horses to fetch it away for several days previous to last Monday. Clark drove his horses. He also sent Haydon’s timber carriage and horses and Cherry drove that. He sent Joseph Sear to cut the trees and see after the loading. He saw the wood brought home by Sear on Monday last, with his mark on. The whole saplings averaged 5s a piece. The 9 pieces cost him more than 6s. Joseph Sear of Caddington, carpenter – he was employed by John Williams on Monday 17 June to draw some timber out of Deadmansey Wood. Cherry and Clark were employed by Mr Williams. He sent them to another part of the wood to load the carriage and wagon. When he got his timber out of the Lower Wood he went up to where they were and saw a cart standing in the wood with some oak saplings. He thought they seemed very much like Williams’ saplings. He examined the ends and found Williams’ mark on them. It was William Hind’s cart. He asked Hinds where he had them from. Hinds told him he had bought them from Cherry and Clark. There were 9 pieces all together. He took possession of the pieces and laid them where they were before. There were also 10 faggots in the cart. He produces the iron with which they were marked – the iron fits the marks on the butts. He gave the wood in charge to William Scott while he went to fetch a cart. He brought the wood home to Mr Williams’ yard. Hinds showed him some money he said Cherry had given him back. There was a shilling, sixpence and three pennies. He thinks the wood was worth at least 6 shillings. The butts were in 12 feet lengths. One of the tops was longer. William Scott of Studham, butcher – last Monday 17 June he was in Deadmansey Wood. William Hinds came to him and asked if he had got any faggots to sell. He said he had. Hinds said he would like to have half a hundred of them and asked the price. He said 3s and Hinds bid half a crown. He told Hinds he would not take less that 3s. Hinds said he would come and lad. He had faggots there to sell. Hinds went to fetch his horse and cart. He wait for him. Hinds stopped with some men – Cherry and Clarke - down in the road. Hinds was loading some pieces of wood with them. He went down the road towards Hinds who came to him and said he had been buying some wood and could not take as many faggots as he had said but would take what he could. Hinds came with the cart which had 9 pieces of wood and some faggots in it. They agreed for 30 faggots and loaded them .Sear came and asked if this was his [Scott’s] share, and said there were pieces of wood in the cart he could swear to. Sear unloaded the wood and left in his charge while he went to fetch a cart. He was not near enough to hear what passed between Hinds and the prisoners. After the wood had been unloaded Hinds showed him some money and said the man with the flannel jacket (Cherry) had given him back the money he gave for the wood. There was a shilling, a sixpence and 3d in copper. He asked if Hinds bought it for that money – Hinds said he did.

item

Cherry, James,
Clarke, William,
Hinds, William,
Williams, John,
Sear, Joseph,
Scott, William

LUTON, WHIPSNADE, CADDINGTON, Deadmonsey, stealing, wood, builder, timber, carts, carpenter