QSR1847/1/5/17

Depositions and examination - Thomas Stock of Wyboston

11 December 1846

From: 1846 To: 1847

John Howkins of Wyboston, farmer - yesterday morning between 10 and 11am he went into his barn and took a sample of wheat and counted the sacks. He found one 4 bushel sack was missing. He saw some boards had been knocked off at one corner of the barn to make an entrance. He gave information to the police. From what the police told him that morning he went to Mr Power’s mill at Tempsford where the miller showed him 4 bushels of whet corresponding with the wheat in his barn. The miller had received the wheat from Nathaniel Watts to be ground for him. He identified the wheat which contained white heads. Stock was in his employ but was away from work yesterday. Stock knew the arrangement of the barn. William Nicol, no.2 of Bedfordshire Rural Police - fro information received from Mr Howkins he went to his barn and got some samples of his wheat. He then saw Nathaniel Watts, the carman to Mr Powers of Tempsford. He gave him a sample of the wheat and asked him to let him know if he had any wheat like it. He went to the mill with Mr Howkins this morning and received sample from 4 bushels at the mill and from Mr Howkins. He later aprehended Stock at Wyboston. He asked Stock how he came by the wheat he sent to the mill eysterday to be ground. Stock said he bought it from a friend. Stock said “I know the man but I don’t know his name and I don’t know where he lives”. Nathaniel Watts, waggoner to Mr Powers of Tempsford Mill - on his way home yesterday he saw Stock in Wyboston. Stock said he had 2 bushels of wheat. He turned his horses back and fetched the wheat as he had passed Stock’s house. Stock returned to his house with him and helped to put the 2 bushels of wheat from one sack into another. When he said it was a nice sample of wheat Stock said it was his own growing. After he put the 2 bushels into the wagon Stock said he had 2 more bushels he also wished him to take. They put them into the same sack with the other 2 bushels. He noticed the wheat was similar to that he received a sample of yesterday morning from the policeman. He feels sure the wheat and sample are of the same growth. Thomas Stock of Wyboston - he bought the wheat at St Neots market a fortnight ago yesterday but does not know the person he bought it from. He only paid part of the money for it. He does not know who brought it to him. He was to pay for it at the rate of 2 guineas.

item

Stock, Thomas,
Howkins, John,
Nicol, William,
Watts, Nathaniel,
Powers

Wyboston, EATON SOCON, Tempsford Mill, stealing, wheat, miller, farmer, police constable, waggoner