QSR1859/1/5/1a

Depositions of William John Adkins, farmer of Aspley Guise. John Chance, labourer of Northampton and employed by Thomas Johnson a builder. David Cook, parish constable. William Clay, police constable stationed at Aspley Guise. Benjamin Dolton and William Smith, both labourers of Aspley Guise. In the case of Joseph Butcher accused of stealing 3 bushels of potatoes.

3 November 1858

From: 1858 To: 1859

William John Adkins: a farmer of Aspley Guise. In January 1858 he had a quantity of ‘Farmers Glory’ potatoes in a pit in a field in Aspley Guide, occupied by Henry Durrant. On 20 January he missed some of the potatoes. The pit had been opened. He believed about 2 bushels to have been taken. The prisoner was, at the time, a labourer in the parish. He informed the police of his loss. On 26 January he went with John Chance and David Cook, the parish constable to the house of William Chance at Wavendon. He saw potatoes there, which were similar to those he had lost. John Chance informed him that he had bought the potatoes from the prisoner. On 23 January he had seen the prisoner and accused him of stealing the potatoes. The prisoners had replied that he could not prove it and afterwards denied it, saying he had the potatoes from his father. About an hour later he again saw the prisoner and told him he had been to his father who had denied giving him any potatoes. The prisoner said he had bought the potatoes from a man at Wavendon. John Chance: a labourer employed by Thomas Johnson. On January he lived with his father at Wavendon. On 16 January he was at Thomas Brandon’s house at Aspley and the prisoner went into the kitchen with him and told him he had brought a bushel of potatoes for a man at Crawley but he had not come. He went with the prisoner down to the stable and saw a sack of potatoes. He offered the prisoner 1s 8d for them. The prisoner said he had them from his father. The prisoner told him he may take the sack and leave it at Nathan Cohen’s. On 26 January he delivered 3 potatoes and the sack to David Cook. David Cook: he went on 26 January, with the prosecutor, to the house of William Chance. John Chance, his son, was with him at the time. They went upstairs and found the potatoes under the bed. Mr Adkins identified them. He took possession of the potatoes and gave them to PC Clay. PC William Clay: on 27 January a bushel of Farmer Glory potatoes were handed to him by parish constable David Cook. He received information regarding the loss from the prosecutor and was present when the prosecutor accused the prisoner of the theft on 23 January. The prisoner initially said it could not be proved and afterwards said he did not take the potatoes. He compared a sample of potatoes from those handed to him by Cook with those in the pit. They corresponded exactly. He kept the potatoes until May, when they were thrown away. The prisoner absconded on 24 January. Benjamin Dolton: 13 years old and living with his father and mother at Aspley. He knew the prisoner well and he knew where the prosecutors pit was. He was in the employment of Henry Durrant. On 13 January, the day of Mr Millener’s sale at Salford, he saw the prisoner in the field. The prisoner asked whose it was and he told him. The prisoner was at work in the adjoining field. William Smith: a labourer in Aspley. On 16 January Joseph Butcher, the prisoner, brought a peck of potatoes to his house. They were whitish and large with a deep eye. The prisoner was lodging at his house and he asked him to take the potatoes in part payment. He did so. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Butcher, Joseph,
Adkins, William John,
Chance, John,
Johnson, Thomas,
Cook, David,
Clay, William,
Dolton, Benjamin,
Smith, William

ASPLEY GUISE, Northampton, stealing, potatoes, farmer, builder's labourer, parish constable