QSR1856/2/5/4

Depositions of John Marriott, labourer of Tillbrook and Thomas Hewett, labourer of Tillbrook. In the case of Enoch Peacock, labourer of Great Catworth, accused of stealing 2 draining hoes.

1 April 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

John Marriott: on 1 March he and Thomas Hewett were doing some drains for Mr Sharpe at Tilbrook next to Covington Lane. Some other men, some of whom came from Catworth, were draining the other side of the lane for Mr Browning. On going to work on the morning of 2 March he found 2 of his draining hoes gone. He went to Browning’s field and enquired after the men who had been working there. He found some of them had gone to Keystone Field in Huntingdonshire. He went to Keystone Field with Thomas Hewett and found the prisoner working in a drain there. He found his 2 hoes in the drain. He went to Dean for a police constable who took the hoes. The prisoner left his work at dinner time that day and did not return. After he had identified the hoes in the presence of Lord St John, the PC allowed him the hoes. They were worth 4 shillings. He knew the prisoner and obtained a warrant for him. The prisoner left the neighbourhood and he had not heard of his return until the previous Sunday. Thomas Hewitt: he recollected Marriott’s hoes and on 2 March he went with Marriott to Keystone. In a field there he saw the prisoner draining using one of the hoes. They did not say anything to him. The prisoner went for his dinner and never came back. He stayed by the drain until the police constable came. He knew the hoes to belong to Marriott by marks on them. Statement of the accused: he was guilty and had done it from want.

item

Peacock, Enoch,
Marriott, John,
Hewett, Thomas

Tillbrook, Great Catworth, Keyston, stealing, hoe