QSR1845/2/5/1

Depositions and examination - William Pepper, charged with stealing a quantity of fern value 3d from Francis Duke of Bedford at Eversholt on 23 November 1844

14 February 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

Joseph Norman of Woburn, labourer - he is employed as a watcher in the Duke of Bedford’s Park. On 23 November he saw Pepper come into the Park and go behind a tree as if hiding himself. He [Stephens] was hidden, on the watch. Pepper stayed behind the tree for nearly 5 minutes then went to a place where some fern was lying cut. Pepper gathered a quantity, tied it into a bundle with cord he had with him and put it on his shoulder. Pepper came towards the place where he was hidden. He spoke to him. Pepper said he took it for his horses and thought it was no harm. Pepper took the bundle back to the place he took it from, threw down the fern and took his cord away. He has repeatedly found Pepper trespassing in the Park but has not caught him taking anything before. [Cross-examined: He did not know Pepper worked about the Park fetching timber away. He knew Pepper’s uncle did. People who have bought timber are allowed to go about the Park to fetch it.] It was a large bundle, larger than a truss of straw, three times more than he could put his arms around. It was quite dusk. Richard Stephens of Woburn, labourer – he is superintendent of the Duke of Bedford’s wood. Last November a quantity of fern was cut near Ironfield Gate in the Park. It is used on the premises for litter and is also sold for litter. He takes the money for what is sold. Such a bundle of fern as described by Norman would be worth 3d. William Pepper - he has nothing to say except that he did not have the fern out of the Park.

item

Pepper, William,
Russell, Francis (7th Duke of Bedford),
Stephens, Richard,
Norman, Joseph

EVERSHOLT, WOBURN, stealing, ferns