QSR1848/1/5/33,43,44

Depositions and examinations - Thomas Edwards, Charles Rutt and Henry Norman, charged wtih stealing 1/2 bushel of apples from John Elderkin at Langford

14 December 1847

From: 1847 To: 1848

John Elderkin of Langford, labourer – about 8.30am last Monday (13 Dec) John Robinson told him his loft had been broken into. He found the straw thrown about and missed half a bushel of apples. John Charter of Langford, labourer – about 2.30pm on Sunday 12th he saw Norman, Edwards, Rutt and James Crowsley in the yard where the loft occupied by John Elderkin is situated. He was coming out of a malting in the same yard where he works. They had no business there. He told them to go away but they would not. He shut the door after himself and went for a walk. He returned in about an hour and found the door open. The loft is over part of the malting. When he got inside he saw a hole in the wall between the malting and the loft. John Dilly of Langford, labourer – about 3pm on Sunday he was with Norman Edwards, Crowsley and Rutt. They went into the yard. He stood outside and saw them go into the malting. In about 10 minutes they came out again. All their pockets were sticking out as if they were very full. They had some apples in their hands and ran down the orchard. Thomas Edwards – he does not know anything about the apples. Charles Rutt – he never had any apples. He did not know there were any in the malting. John Elderkin [further information] – the loft is over a malting in Mrs Pateman’s yard and is totally distinct from his dwelling house. The apples that had grown on different trees all lay in separate heaps. The heap that the half bushel was stolen from contained about 2 bushels. Henry Norman – he knows nothing about the apples. He never spoke to John Dilley on Sunday.

item

Edwards, Thomas,
Rutt, Charles,
Norman, Henry,
Elderkin, John,
Robinson, John,
Charter, John,
Dilly, John,
Crowsley, James

LANGFORD, stealing, apples, malt