QSR1858/3/5/2b

Depositions of James Hartwell, labourer of Sharnbrook, Thomas Paybody, labourer of Sharnbrook, William Byers Graham, superintendent of police and George Bone, labourer of Sharnbrook. In the case of Samuel Prentice accused of stealing 3 bushels of potatoes.

19 May 1858

From: 1858 To: 1858

James Hartwell: On the morning of Thursday 22 May he found that the lock on the barn door, belonging to his master Mr White, had been forced open, He missed 2 to 3 bushels from the heap. He had seen them the Tuesday before. On Tuesday he locked the door and hung the key as usual in his master’s kitchen. Thomas Paybody: he lived at Sharnbrook and sold garden seeds and potatoes. On 17 May the prisoner came and asked what he could give for potatoes. The prisoner left word on the Tuesday that he was to see him on the Wednesday for potatoes. He went to his house early on Wednesday morning and he told him the potatoes were in Church Field and he was to take his wheelbarrow and they would meet there. He did so and the prisoner gave him potatoes from the heap there. There was about 3 bushels and the prisoner said he could have another bushel and pay 2s 6d a bushel for them. The prisoner said he had exchanged a pair of trousers with George Bone for 4 bushels and they had only received 3 bushels at present. On 21 May he went to Prentice and asked him when he could have the other bushel and the prisoner said he could not get them that evening as it was too far. Superintendent William Byers Graham: when the prisoner was in custody he told him he understood he had been selling potatoes that week. The prisoner said he had and had exchanged a pair of trousers for 3 bushels which he had sold to Thomas Paybody. He went to Thomas Paybody’s to Mr Tapsell’s at Sharnbrook and he received from Mr Tapsell’s the potatoes. Paybody recognised them as the potatoes which he had brought from the prisoner and sold to Tapsell. He had taken 7 potatoes from Mr White’s heap that morning and they were of the same kind as those bought by Mr Tapsell. George Bone: he was horse keeper to Mr White of Sharnbrook and knew the prisoner. He had not had dealings with him this year. He had not sold him potatoes nor bought trousers from him. He had sold the prisoner potatoes the previous year which he had grown in Mr White’s field with his sanction. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Prentice, Samuel,
Hartwell, James,
Paybody, Thomas,
Graham, William Byers,
Bone, George,
White, Alfred,
Tapsell

SHARNBROOK, stealing, potatoes