QSR1855/4/5/18

Depositions of Benjamin Christy, farmer of Caddington, George Waller, labourer of Caddington and Samuel Pope, superintendent of police of Luton. In the case of Isaac Hoar, accused of receiving from George Waller 2 pieces of oak timber.

27 August 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Benjamin Christy: on 22 August he missed a piece of ash timber from his wagon house. He previously missed another piece. The pieces had been cut out for the purpose of making a pair of cart shafts. On 24 August he went with Mr Pope into a meadow at the back of the prisoner’s garden. In a ditch he saw 2 pieces of timber. He compared them with another of the same description, made at the same time, and had no doubt they were his property. The wood was dry. There had been a thunder storm during the previous night and so the wood could only have been there a few hours. He was present when Pope took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner denied the charge. George Waller: a labourer in the employment of Mr Christy. About 6 weeks previous he saw the prisoner at Woodside. The prisoner said the shafts of his cart were getting worn and he heard there was some wood at his masters that would make a pair. He said he did not know but the prisoner said they were round in the wagon hovel and he would give him 2 shillings for them. Waller said he did not know if he dare sell it as he would get pulled up for it. Hoar say he would not take the wood to his house but lay it in a ditch. Waller took the 2 pieces of wood and lay them in the ditch as he had been told. He saw Hoar 2 or 3 days later and asked him if he had the wood and Hoar said he had. He asked Hoar for the money but he said he had none and would pay him when he did. On 24 August he went with Mr Pope to the meadow and showed him where the wood lay. He found the wood quite dry. He had no doubt it was the same as taken from the hovel. He told his master before he was taken into custody. Superintendent Samuel Pope: on 24 August he went to the prisoner’s house at Woodside. The prisoner was home and he asked him if he had bought any wood from George Waller to make cart shafts with. Hoar said he had never had dealings with him. About 1pm on the same day he went to a meadow at the back of the prisoner’s garden with George Waller, who pointed out where he had laid the wood. The wood was not there but found slightly further down the meadow in the same ditch. It was quite dry and there had been a thunder storm during the night. He suspected the wood had been put there after he had visited Hoar that morning. He also noticed recently broken branches in the hedge. He took the prisoner into custody and charged him. Hoar said he knew nothing of the charge but Waller identified him as the man who had promised the 2 shillings for the wood. Statement of the accused: he reserved his defence by advice of his attorney.

item

Hoar, Isaac,
Christy, Benjamin,
Waller, George,
Pope, Samuel

CADDINGTON, receiving stolen goods, timber, farmer