QSR1856/4/5/15

Depositions of Benjamin Anstee, labourer of Houghton Regis and PC Charles Dale of Hougton Regis. In the case of George Burt, otherwise known as Bird, accused of stealing a pottle of barley.

13 October 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

Benjamin Anstee: he worked for Mr Stephen Hunt, a farmer. On 7 October he went to his master’s stack yard about 11.15am. He saw the prisoner at the end of the barley rick, rubbing the barley from the rick into a bag. He watched the prisoner for about 2 minutes and then asked what he was doing. He said he was getting a little barley for his rabbits and he hoped Anstee would not do anything about it as it was the first time. Burt took up the bag and went away with it. There was about a pottle of barley. He told his master. PC Charles Dale: he took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said he knew nothing of the barley. Afterwards Burt said he had not more than a handful of barley and when Anstee came, he had thrown it down and run away. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Burt, George,
Bird, George,
Anstee, Benjamin,
Dale, Charles,
Hunt, Stephen

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, barley