QSR1855/3/5/59

Depositions of George Osborne, labourer of Northill and Stephen Hills, labourer of Beeston. In the case of William Jeeves, labourer of Northill, accused of stealing a hoe.

19 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

George Osborne: he resided at Northill and on 10 May worked for Mr Masters at Beeston. He left his hoe in a field covered with earth and on 11 May it had been taken away. William Jeeves was at work in the next field and he observed him looking towards him and his fellow labourers as they had left work. He did not see the hoe again until he saw it in Stephen Hill’s hand. Stephen Hills: he lived at Beeston and knew the prisoner. On 11 May the prisoner came to see him at work in Mr Bird’s field and showed him the hoe. The prisoner said he had found it in Worden Lane and asked him to buy it. He gave a shilling for it. He had heard a policeman was searching for Osborne’s hoe and went to Breakwell, the policeman and gave up the hoe. PC William Hills: stationed at Blunham. He received the prisoner from Breakwell who was too unwell to take the prisoner before a magistrate. The prisoner said he did not know why he was in custody and Hills told him the charge and that he need say nothing on the subject unless he wished. Jeeves said he had taken the hoe and had sold it to Hills for a shilling but had not yet got the money. The previous day Jeeves had claimed no knowledge of the hoe. The prisoner declined to say anything.

item

Jeeves, William,
Osborne, George,
Hills, Stephen

NORTHILL, Beeston, stealing, hoe