QSR1855/2/5/6b

Depositions of Thomas Willsher, labourer of Ridgmont, Daniel Grace, labourer of Husborne Crawley, Thomas Yates, farmer of Bow Brickhill, Buckinghamshire and William Clay, police constable of Aspley Guise. In the case of Robert Cook, labourer of Ridgmont, accused of stealing a pair of reins.

23 March 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Thomas Willsher: in March 1854 he had a pit of potatoes in his garden. There were between 5 and 6 bushels. On 1 March 1854 the potatoes were safe and the following morning he found the pit broken open and 4 half to 4 bushels stolen. They were white potatoes of the sort called “Shaws”. Some of the potatoes were left in the pit and he informed PC Clay of the robbery. Clay took a sample of the potatoes from those remaining in the pit. They had been covered in barley straw. Clay afterwards brought some potatoes to compare with those in the pit. They agreed exactly. There were short pieces of barley straw amongst them. He had no doubt they were his potatoes. He afterwards received about 2 bushels of potatoes from Thomas Yates of Bow Brickhill. Daniel Grace: a labourer at Husborne Crawley. On the morning of 2 March 1854 he saw a barrow standing in Aspley Lane. There were 2 sacks in the barrow with about 2 bushels of potatoes in one of the sacks and a pair of reins. There was nobody with the barrow at the time and soon afterwards he saw Cook and his brother, both whom he knew well, coming down the lane. They went to the barrow and remained with it. He saw nothing further but through it was their barrow from the way there went up to it. Thomas Yates: a farmer of Bow Brickhill. On 3 March 1854 he overtook the prisoner Cook and another man between Bow Brickhill and Fenny Stratford. Each had a sack on his back and he enquired what was inside them. The other man said they had potatoes bought from Aspley belonging to their father. They agreed on a price for the potatoes and the sacks were put in his cart and taken to his premises. The sacks were emptied in Yates’s own sacks. They were white potatoes and there was between 1 and 2 bushels. On 4 March PC Clay told him the potatoes were stolen and he took a sample of them. The next Sunday he saw the prisoner and his companion at Bow Brickhill and apprehended the prisoner’s companion who was afterwards tried and convicted of the offence. The prisoner ran away. PC William Clay: on 2 March 1854 went to the prosecutors house and took a sample of potatoes from his pit and some barley straw with which the potatoes were covered. On 4 March he went to Yates’s house and found the prisoner and another man had sold him some potatoes. He took a sample of them. The potatoes corresponded. There were short pieces of barley straw among the potatoes. The prisoner Robert Cook absconded at the time and remained away until he was taken into custody. As he was being taken to Woburn, Cook said “well Mr Clay I hope you’ll speak for me. It is the first time and it shall be the last. I hope they’ll forgive me. I should not have went but for my brother Tom made me.” Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Cook, Robert,
Willsher, Thomas,
Grace, Daniel,
Yates, Thomas,
Clay, William

RIDGMONT, HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, Bow Brickhill, ASPLEY GUISE, stealing, potatoes, farmer