QSR1858/3/5/2a

Depositions of James Hartwell, labourer of Sharnbrook and Thomas Cook, police constable of Sharnbrook. In the case of Samuel Prentice accused of stealing a bushel of potatoes.

25 May 1858

From: 1858 To: 1858

James Hartwell: he was in the employment of Mr Alfred White of Sharnbrook. On the morning of 22 May he found that the lock on the barn door had been opened. He had left his safe the afternoon before. A person had been in the building and some potatoes had been stolen. The potatoes were his masters and were not for cattle but for food. PC Thomas Cook: in consequence of direction from Mr White he watched his premises and was watching on the night of 21 May from a stable in the yard. About 11.40pm he saw a man open the door of the chaff house and go in. He heard him unlock the door to where the potatoes where kept. He heard him come out of the building and shut the door. He saw the prisoner light a match and look for something. The prisoner took the potatoes, which were in a bag on his back. PC Cook took him into custody. There was a bushel of potatoes worth about 3 shillings. The prisoner afterwards said he had dropped his key. He found other keys on the prisoner, one of which was a skeleton. Statement of the accused: he was guilty of stealing the bushel.

item

Prentice, Samuel,
Hartwell, James,
Cook, Thomas,
White, Alfred

SHARNBROOK, stealing, potatoes