QSR1856/1/5/15

Depositions of Elizabeth Middleton, widow of Biggleswade, William Breakwell, police constable of Biggleswade and Thomas Henshaw, corn chandler of Biggleswade. In the case of Joseph Staughton, labourer of Biggleswade, accused of stealing 2 bushels of wheat.

28 November 1855

From: 1855 To: 1856

Elizabeth Middleton: a widow and keeper of the Horse & Jockey public house at Biggleswade. The prisoner had been working for her at threshing wheat for the previous 8 days. On 26 November he called said the barn had been robbed and he thought 2 or 3 loads of wheat belonging to her and John Newman had been taken. Newman had some wheat in the same barn. She sent of the police. Staughton had a key to the barn. Sergeant William Breakwell: from information received he went with PC Tod to Staughton’s house. They searched the house and found about 2 bushels of wheat in a sack. He took a sample of the wheat and a sample from Mrs Middleton’s wheat. Thomas Henshaw: he exampled the samples of wheat and had no doubt they were from the same field. Neither sample was ground wheat. Statement of the accused: nothing to say only that it was his own. His wife and children had picked it up.

item

Staughton, Joseph,
Middleton, Elizabeth,
Breakwell, William,
Henshaw, Thomas

BIGGLESWADE, stealing, wheat, corn chandler