QSR1846/1/5/24

Depositions and examination - Obadiah Worsley charged with stealing peas from Daniel Davis

29 December 1845

From: 1845 To: 1846

Daniel Davis of Luton, farmer – he had a rick of peas at Cowridge End. From information received he looked at the rick on Saturday morning (Dec 27) and found some had been pulled out. PC Millard showed him some peas which appeared to be like his. He does not know of any other person in the neighbourhood that grows the same sort of pea. Obadiah Worsley – he was going to Biscott on Friday night and found the peas by the side of the road. George Crew of Luton, labourer – he works for Daniel Davis and knows the rick of peas at Cowridge End. I cut the pea rick last Wednesday and there were many left loose on one rick. On Saturday night he saw the rick again and found there was some pulled out and it was not in the same state he saw it on Wednesday. There were 2 or 3 armfuls gone. He knows Worsley, who lives near the rick. He often sees him lurking about the farm. The straw is a great deal like his master’s with a great quantity of green in it. John Millard of Luton, police constable – on Friday night he and Massey were near Worsley’s house at Mussons Cottages in Luton. He heard someone threshing. They went into the house and found Worsley threshing peas. Worsley said he found them on the old Barton Road and that they had fallen off a cart. He asked whose cart it was and Worsley said he did not know. Worsley later said he did not see any cart but thought they fell off one. He took the peas away. The next morning he showed them to Daniel Davis who believed they were his. He also showed Davis the straw and Davis also believed that to be his. There is some wheat straw mixed with it.

item

Worsley, Obadiah,
Davis, Daniel,
Crew, George,
Millard, John

LUTON, Biscot, Luton Barton Road, Luton Cowridge End, stealing, peas, farmers, police constable