QSR1857/2/5/6

Depositions of Frederick Young, gardener of Potton, John Cox, gardener of Potton, Alfred Mayes, police constable of Potton, Francis Childs, labourer of Toseland and William Meeks, labourer of Toseland in Huntindonshire. In the case of David Young accused of stealing a wheelbarrow, 2 sacks and a bushel of potatoes.

6 April 1857

From: 1857 To: 1857

Frederick Young: on 28 March he went to a shed for a wheelbarrow which he had left there. He could not find it. He enquired of his children and his neighbour John Cox. John Cox said he had seen it at 7pm on 27 March. He did not see the wheelbarrow again until he saw it in Toseland in the possession of Francis Childs. PC Alfred Mayes: on 28 March he was told of the loss of the wheelbarrow and some potatoes by Young and Cox. They had been taken forma shed in their occupation. He made every enquiry but could hear nothing of any potatoes or a wheelbarrow. On 1 April he heard that a man in Toseland had bought a wheelbarrow and some potatoes from a man passing along the road. He went to Toseland and heard a man by the name of Childs had bought the wheelbarrow. He went to Childs house and saw his wife. She told him her husband was away at work. He asked where the wheelbarrow was and she told him it was in the barn. He found the wheelbarrow there and it was identified by Frederick Young as his property. He also produced a sack which Cox identified as his. He found some potatoes in the possession of a man called Meeks which Cox declared as similar to those lost. From information received he went to Hemingford Abbotts and apprehended the David Young. He was identified by Meeks and Childs as the prisoner from whom they had bought the articles. Francis Childs: he occupied a small piece of land in Toseland. On 28 March he had been at work setting potatoes. William Meeks was at work repairing a hedge on the opposite side of the road. Meeks called to him to lend him some money to pay for some potatoes which he had bought from a man passing on the road with a wheelbarrow. The man with the barrow wanted to sell the barrow and said he would take 5 shillings for it. He thought it was below its price and asked him how he came by it. He said he bought it for particular work which had now finished and therefore wanted to sell it. He bought the barrow for 4 shillings and 2 pence. The prisoner asked him to buy a few potatoes he had left and Childs did so. He did not see the prisoner again until he was in the custody of the police. William Meeks: on 28 March he had been at work mending a hedge for Mr Topham. The accused came along the road with a wheelbarrow and some potatoes. He asked the man what he had to sell and the prisoner said he had some potatoes. After negotiating he bought a bushel and a peck of potatoes for 2 shillings and nine pence. Statement of the accused: he was going along the lane at Potton and saw a wheelbarrow in the lane with some potatoes in it. He took the wheelbarrow about 5am on 28 March. He went with it along to Gamlingay Heath but could not find an owner for it.

item

Young, David,
Young, Frederick,
Cox, John,
Mayes, Alfred,
Childs, Frederick,
Meeks, William

Toseland, POTTON, Hemingford Abbots, Gamlingay Heath, stealing, wheelbarrow, sack, potatoes, gardener