QSR1845/4/5/32

Depositions, examination and character reference – John Chambers charged with stealing oats and other articles

15 July 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

Richard Girton of Warden – he is servant to the Honorable Frederick Henley Ongley. He has suspected for some time that Chambers was in the habit of robbing Mr George Ongley. Seeing Chambers drive up to Mr Ongley’s farm in Worden in a cart at about 4pm yesterday he watched him. Chambers drove into the yard and put his horse in the stable. He had 2 or 3 empty sacks in his cart. He had heard Chambers had bought some wheat from Mr Ongley and supposed he had come for it but suspected he would take something else. He went upstairs to his wife intending to watch Chambers from the window which overlooks the farm yard. From what his wife told him he went to Mr Ongley to report what he had heard and seen. By Mr Ongley’s direction he returned to the farm. Chambers’ horse and cart then stood outside the farm yard. A woman was in it and the sacks were filled with something. Chambers came out of the house with another woman and drove away towards the Bedford Road. He followed on horseback. When Chambers had got into the road he stopped him, telling him it was by Mr Ongley’s orders. He went for Mr Ongley, who came and took Chambers with his horse and cart back to the farm. He saw Mr Reynolds untie the sacks. One sack contained chaff at the top and bottom with another sack inside containing oats and split beans, about a peck and a half. Another sack was all chaff and the third contained wheat. When he stopped Chambers he said he knew had had done wrong and that he had no business to take the corn, but that the chaff was due to him. Chambers asked to be allowed to go back tot eh farm and put back the corn. He suspected Chambers because he had seen him take away two sacks of chaff on two previous occasions. John Marstin of Wardon – he is a labourer employed by Mr George Ongley. His father is bailiff and he lives at the farm. At his father’s orders he has sometimes given Chambers sacks of chaff. He was not at the farm yesterday and knew nothing about Chambers being there then. Chambers always told him he had orders from his father. William Marstin – he is foreman to Mr George Ongley. At his master’s orders he told his son to give Chambers 3 sacks of chaff. He cannot say how long ago – he thinks about 2 months. He was not at home yesterday. John Chambers – last Saturday evening he came over to Marstin’s to pay mhim some money due to Mr Ongley. He asked if Masrtin could let him have a load of wheat. Marstin said there was a load of tail wheat left and he would ask Mr Ongley if he could have it. He told Marstin he had 2 sacks of chaff due to him out of four which Mr Ongley said he might have. Having part of a day to spare he went yesterday to fetch the chaff and see if he could have the wheat. He asked the carpenters if Marstin or anyone was about. They said not, but that they heard Marstin give orders that he was to have the load of wheat and bring in some straw. He took the load of wheat and took two sacks of chaff from the chaff house. Seeing some corn in a bin he also took some of that and put it into the sacks. He admits he was wrong in doing so but considered he was entitled to the chaff according to his bargain with Mr Ongley. Also a letter from John Bond and Thomas Henshaw stating that John Chambers wished them to go to Bedford to speak for him but as it was market day they could not. States they feel very sorry for him “having always found him to be a very honest fair dealing man”.

item

Girton, Richard,
Ongley, Frederick Henley,
Ongley, George,
Marstin, John,
Marstin, William,
Bond, John,
Henshaw, Thomas,
Chambers, John

Old Warden, stealing, oats, peas, beans, straw, farm bailiff, farm labourer