QSR1855/1/5/33

Depositions of John Topham Sharpe, bailiff of Dunton and Richard Todd, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of John Brown, labourer of Dunton, accused of stealing 1/2 peck of crushed barley.

4 December 1854

From: 1854 To: 1855

John Topham Sharpe: on 1 December John Brown was working as his foreman. He had been his foreman for nearly 2 years and had the care and superintendence of everything on the farm, of which he was bailiff. Between 3 and 4pm on 2 December, PC Todd came to his house and told him that he had found a quantity of crushed barley in the house of John Brown. The PC came again with Brown. Brown said that the barley belong Sharpe and he as very sorry he had taken it and he had been near to taking it back. He believed the barley to be the property of Earl Brownlow. PC Richard Todd: on the afternoon of 2 December he went to the house of John Brown in search of some peas which had been stolen. He went into the back kitchen and on the shelf found some crushed barley tied in a small bag. He asked Mrs Brown where the barley had come from and she replied her husband had brought it from Mr Sharpe’s. He apprehended John Brown and took him to Mr Sharpe where he said he was very sorry he had taken it and was near to taking it back again. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say but it was Mr Sharpe’s barley and he was sorry for what had happened.

item

Brown, John,
Todd, Richard,
Sharpe, John Topham

DUNTON, BIGGLESWADE, bailiff, barley, stealing