QSR1854/4/5/17-18

Depositions of John Cooper, farmer of Sundon, George Burt, labourer of Houghton Regis and Reuben Edward Kemp, police constable of Houghton Regis. In the case of Charles Brazier & Thomas Janes accused of stealing a quantity of barley in the straw.

18 September 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

John Cooper: a son of Joseph Cooper, a farmer of Sundon. He and his father held some land in the parish of Houghton Regis. On 8 September he saw Charles Brazier and Thomas Janes in a field in Houghton Regis in the occupation of his father and himself. They had finished cutting barley and the field had been dragged. They were many other persons there gathering barley and gleaning what was left on the ground. He had not said they could glean and ordered them not to do it. He had previously told George Burt not to do it. When he heard that people were there, he went to the field with PC Kemp. The prisoners were picking up barley with several others. He told the Constable to take the barley from them. George Burt: he worked for Mr Cooper and on 8 September Mr John Cooper told him to go to Charles Brazier to tell him not to glean the barley. He went to Charles Brazier and told him so. Brazier was then in the field and said he should not go. He had some barley in a little basket and saw his picking some up before he got to him. PC Reuben Edward Pepper: on 8 September Mr John Cooper called upon her and asked her to go with him to a field of Barley where people were gleaning. He went there with him and saw the 2 prisoners picking up barley. He took some barley from Brazier. It was in a basket and Janes had a small quantity in his hand. He told them there had no right to do it and Brazier said he did not know he was doing wrong. Statement of the accused: Charles Brazier – he had nothing to say except he thought he had the right to glean after it had been eared and dragged. Thomas Janes – he was never on the ground and never set a foot on it. He can bring a witness to prove it. He was on Mr John Eames ground adjoining at the time the policeman came. He picked the barley up from Mr Eames ground.

item

Janes, Thomas,
Brazier, Charles,
Cooper, John,
Burt, George,
Kemp, Reuben Edward

SUNDON, HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, barley, farmer