QSR1855/2/5/9

Depositions of William Cranfield, farmer of Marston Moretaine, Thomas Bowles, police constable of Lidlington and Charles Flint, police constable of Cranfield. In the case of William Pollard, labourer of Marston Moretaine, accused of stealing 5 swede turnips.

29 March 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

William Cranfield: a farmer of Marston Moretaine and he had lost a quantity of turnips from his pit in one of his fields. He advised the police. The prisoner was not in his employment but he did know him and he had no business on the land. On 21 March he was advised by PC Bowles that he had found turnips in the prisoner’s house. To the best of his knowledge the turnips were his and they were a type called Tartlett Liverpool. The seed had been raised by his father for the last 4 or 5 years. The turnips he had pitted were twisted off at the tops and the turnips produced had also been twisted at the tops. It would have been usual to cut off the tops. He believed he had lost a cart load of turnips from his pit, at different times. The value of the 5 turnips found was 2 pence. He had never seen similar turnips in the parish. PC Thomas Bowles: stationed at Lidlington. On 21 March he was instructed by his Superintendent to go with PC Flint to the prisoner’s house in Marston. They searched the house and the 5 turnips were found. He went to the prosecutor and obtained 6 turnips from his pit. The prisoner was taken into custody and was asked where he got the turnips. The prisoner replied that was his business and nobody had seen him steal them from Mr Cranfield’s pit. He had said nothing to the prisoner about Mr Cranfield pit. PC Flint: stationed at Cranfield. On 21 March he went with PC Bowles to the prisoner’s house and the 5 turnips were found in back place under the stairs. They were a great number of turnips about the house including some boiled on a plate and some in a dish. He then went to the prosecutor’s house and compared the turnip with others. The prisoner was taken into custody. He never mentioned Mr Cranfield’s name. The prisoner said nobody had seen him steal the turnips and he would not tell where he had them from. Whilst they were comparing the turnips the prisoner said that nobody had seen him fetch turnips from Mr Cranfield. Statement of the accused: he wanted to know who had seen him steal turnips. He had nothing else to say.

item

Pollard, William,
Cranfield, William,
Bowles, Thomas,
Flint, Charles

MARSTON MORETAINE, stealing, turnips, farmers, CRANFIELD, LIDLINGTON