QSR1848/1/5/3-4

Depositions and examination - James Betts and James Foster charged with stealing 3 bushels of potatoes from John Gudgin on 2 November 1847 at Great Barford

2 November 1847

From: 1847 To: 1848

John Gudgin of Biggleswade, tailor – he has a quantity of potatoes pitted in a field at Great Barford. Having missed some at different times he gave John Darrington instructions to watch the pits. From information received from Darrington he came to Barford this morning and found one pit empty. John Darrington – he went last night about 12 o’clock to Mr Gudgin’s potato pits and got behind a tree. About 4am Betts and Foster came to the pits, knelt down by one for a minute, then got up and went to another. They knelt down, pulled the mould off with their hands and took out all the potatoes. James Foster had some in a sack and James Betts had some in a bag. They came close to the tree where he stood. Betts asked Foster which way they should go. He said he would tell them the way to go. He went up to Foster and touched the sack. Foster dropped it and ran away. Betts dropped his bag and ran away. He ran after Foster but could not catch him. He went to call the policeman. William Beach, police constable no.6 – this morning a few minutes after 4am Darrington came to him and told him Betts and Foster had robbed Mr Gudgin’s potato pits. He went with him towards the potato field and met Betts on the road. Betts said he had been to Foster’s house. He took Betts into custody. From the wet state of his shoes and leggings he was satisfied Betts had been somewhere off the road. There was a very heavy dew. He then went to Foster’s house, but Foster was not at home. He went down to the potato field with Darrington. They found the sack and the bag as he said. He later apprehended Foster who was milking his master’s cows. The knees of his breeches were covered with cow dung. Betts and Foster – said they had nothing to do with the potatoes.

item

Betts, James,
Foster, James,
Gudgin, John,
Darrington, John,
Beach, William

Great Barford, BIGGLESWADE, stealing, potatoes, tailor, police constable