QSR1845/2/5/2-3/b

Depositions and examination - Benjamin Taylor charged with stealing half a peck of field peas value 6d from Joseph Gibbons of Tingrith, farmer on 20 March 1845

22 March 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

John Gibbons of Tingrith, labourer – he lives with his grandfather, the prosecutor, who occupies a farm at Tingrrith. Taylor was working for his grandfather on 20 March. Taylor was a weekly labourer and had worked for his grandfather for about 12 months. On 20 March Taylor and John Brazier were at work in a barn in the Home Farm yard chaff cutting. A little before their dinner time he was in the yard but not so they could see him. He was not hiding, but happened to notice that they were looking towards the Wheat House. He saw them go towards it. He knew they had no business there and watched them. He heard Taylor say to Brazier “There’s a girl coming out of the door – but never mind go on in”. They went into the Wheat House. He heard the door unlocked. He did not see them go in but saw their legs as they went up the little ladder to the door. He heard their footsteps inside the Wheat House. He saw them both stoop to look under the Granary which is next to the Wheat House. He saw them with baskets which seemed to be light. In about 2 or 3 minutes they came down the ladder again. He saw them cross the yard again with their baskets which seemed to be heavy. They went into the barn where they were chaff cutting. About 4pm he went into the barn and examined the baskets. He found a quantity of field peas in bags in each, about ½ a peck in each. There were peas of the same kind in the Wheat House. Joseph Gibbons the younger of Tingreth, farmer – he lives with his father Joseph Gibbons. On Thursday he received information that Taylor and Brazier had taken peas. He told the parish constable to stop them when they left the yard. Taylor went first and he followed him. He saw Hill stop Taylor. He examined the basket which is produced. The bag and peas produced were in it. He asked what Taylor was going to do with the peas. Taylor made no answer. They took him into Hill’s house before Brazier came. He then took Taylor to his father’s but they did not understand such things and let them go away. The peas correspond with those in his father’s Wheat House. Robert Henry Taylor of Eversholt, police constable – he produces a basket, bag and about ½ peck of field peas which he took from the house of William Hil at Tingrith on Friday. Benjamin Taylor – he has nothing to say.

item

Brazier, John,
Taylor, Benjamin,
Gibbons, Joseph,
Gibbons, John,
Hill, William,
Taylor, Robert Henry

TINGRITH, EVERSHOLT, stealing, peas, farmer, parish constable, police constable