QSR1848/2/5/7-8

Depositions and examinations - Henry Burrows and Samuel Burrows charged wtih stealing 2 bushels of wheat (value 10s) from James Larkins at Biggleswade

20 March 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

John Cherry of Biggleswade, labourer – he works for James Larkins of Biggleswade. Last Friday 17 march he dressed a quantity of wheat from a barn belonging to Mr Larkins. When he finished he saw the barn locked and took the key to Mr Larkins’ house. The next morning he went to the barn to dress the wheat again and discovered some was missing, he thinks about 2 or 3 bushels. The wheat produced is just like the wheat in his master’s barn. He recognises it from the number of white heads and the quantity of chaff in it. Edwin Blunden of Biggleswade, superintendent of police – last Saturday 18 March Larkin told him of the robbery. He went to Mr Nash’s mill and enquired if any wheat of the kind he described had been brought there to be ground. William Bonfield showed him the wheat now produced. William Bonfield of Biggleswade, miller – he is Mr Nash’s miller at Biggleswade Mill. Last Saturday at about 10am Henry Burrows brought about some wheat to the mill and asked him to grind it as quickly as he could. At about 12pm Mr Blunden came to enquire about the wheat. He told him Burrow had brought some. They measured it as nearly 3 bushels. Sarah, wife of John Woodward of Biggleswade – she lives next door but one to Samuel Burrows. Last Saturday morning between 9 and 10am she saw Henry Burrows cleaning a wheelbarrow out in the yard. He took it to Samuel Burrows’ door. The two Burrows lifted a sack standing just inside the door into the wheelbarrow. Henry wheeled it off and Samuel walked behind. The sack was nearly full and appeared to contain something heavy. William Beaumont Francis of Biggleswade, police constable – he took Henry Burrows into custody. Burrows said he had not got any wheat. When asked about the wheat he took to the mill Burrows said it was bought and paid for. Henry Burrows – “I shall say nothing now” Samuel Burrows – “I shall say nothing now. I bought the wheat but haven’t paid for it yet.”

item

Burrows, Henry,
Burrows, Samuel,
Larkins, James,
Cherry, John,
Blunden, Edwin,
Bonfield, William,
Woodward, Sarah,
Woodward, John,
Francis, William Beaumont,
Nash

BIGGLESWADE, stealing, wheat, miller, MILLS, Biggleswade Mill, police superintendent, police constable