QSR1856/2/5/2-3

Depositions of Benjamin Brown, farmer of Blunham and William Hills, police constable of Blunham. In the case of Joseph Field and Samuel Field, labourers of Blunham, accused of stealing a bushel and a half of beans.

26 March 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

Benjamin Brown: of Willow Hill in Moggerhanger. Joseph Field, a lad of about 19 years, had been in his employment for some time. Field’s duty was to feed the sheep with the beans. He trusted Fields with about 2 bushels a day for the purpose and occasionally mixed maple peas with it, and sometimes some purple beans. His beans were a peculiar sort selected by him many years ago. Joseph Field had left without notice about 3 weeks before and he had not seen him since. The sample of beans produced by PC Mills compared with those he gave to Field for the sheep. [a large section of depositions has been crossed through] PC William Mills: on 28 March he apprehended the prisoner, Joseph Field, at Great Barford by virtue of a warrant. He took Field to his house instead of the lock-up because it had been so cold that night. When he told Field the charge and Field began talking falsehoods saying that his father grew the peas found in the sample and he had bought the beans at St Neots market. Hills told Field that if he said anything it had better be the truth but made no promises to him or inducement for him to confess. Field then said he had brought them to his fathers from his master’s a few times in his pockets. He was very sorry for what he had done and would do so no more. Statement of Joseph Field: “I am very sorry I did it”.

item

Field, Joseph,
Field, Samuel,
Brown, Benjamin,
Hills, William

BLUNHAM, Great Barford, farmer, stealing, beans