QSR1855/4/5/15

Depositions of Benjamin Fensom, gamekeeper of Houghton Regis and Charles Dale, police constable of Houghton Regis. In the case of John Yates, accused of stealing potatoes.

8 October 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Benjamin Fensom: there were quantities of potatoes in a field belonging to Humphrey Brandreth esquire called The Two Acre Field in Houghton Regis. They had been dug and were lying in rows in the field. On 7 October he saw the prisoner in the field picking them up. The prisoner was putting them in his frock rolled up. The prisoner had about a pottle of potatoes, the value of 2 pence. The prisoner was leaving and when he saw Fensom he attempted to run. He told the prisoner not to run and that he knew him. He asked the prisoner for the potatoes who begged him not to say anything about the potatoes. He told the prisoner he must go with him and took him to the police constable. PC Charles Dale: he took the prisoner into custody and charged him with stealing potatoes. The prisoner said he was very hard up or would not have done it. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Yates, John,
Fensom, Benjamin,
Dale, Charles

HOUGHTON REGIS, gamekeepers, stealing, potatoes