QSR1856/2/5/7

Depositions of Frank Brotherhood Reeve, agent of Sharnbrook, William Green, rural police constable of Sharnbrook and Joshua George, clerk of Bedford. In the case of Joseph Wiggins, labourer of Radwell, accused of stealing 2 wheelbarrows, 3 planks of timber, a rail and 8 sleepers.

25 March 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

William Reeve: on 19 March he accompanied Superintendent Graham to the house of the prisoner at Radwell for the purpose of searching for stolen wood. The prisoner was near home and unlocked the barn at their request. They searched it and found 3 pieces of deal plank marked with the letters TB, a wheelbarrow also marked TB, temporary railway sleepers and a quantity of fence rails, one of which was marked in paint no. 67. When asked how he came by these items, the prisoner said he had got them out of the river during the last flood and that if anyone had enquired of them they may have them. Asked if he had any other property of that kind he said there were 2 other pieces of timber sleepers by the back door. On searching the straw stack they found another wheelbarrow marked TB. The prisoner said he also had it from the river after the flood near Christmas. The prisoner said he knew it was railway property but no one had enquired of it and so he considered it his own. The property was identified by Mr Frank Brotherhood Reeve, an agent for Mr Brassey, contractor for the railway passing through parts of Bedfordshire from Leicester to Hitchin. Frank Brotherhood Reeve: he identified the property produced by Constable Green. Joshua George: he had seen all the articles produced by Constable Green and knew them to be those of Mr Brassey. Before a flood came all the wheelbarrows and deal planks were placed either on abutments or high ground beyond the reach of the flood, so nobody could get them during the flood. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say except he got them out of the river after the flood. Some of it swam into his garden and he got one wheelbarrow out from above the bridge and one from below it.

item

Wiggins, Joseph,
Reeve, Frank Brotherhood,
Green, William,
George, Joshua

Radwell, SHARNBROOK, agent, clerk, stealing, wood, wheelbarrow