QSR1848/2/5/17

Depositions and examination - William Foxley of Northill charged wtih stealing 1 1/2 pecks of oats (value 6d) from William Johnson Neal

18 March 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

George Want – he works for Mr Holmes of the Highlands in the parish of Northill. Last Saturday 11 March he sent William Foxley to a barn occupied by Wiliam Johnson Neal in Northill for some chaff. When Foxley returned he saw 2 bags on the top of the cart that the chaff was in. Foxley said it was all chaff. Foxley carried the bags into the stable. Soon afterwards he heard one of the horsekeepers say “if the other bag is as good as this I’ll be damned if I don’t have the next”. He suspected something was wrong, went into the stable, got into the chaff bin into which Foxley had emptied the bags and scooped up with his hands a lot of chaff and oats mixed together. He should think there was about 1 ½ pecks of oats. The horsekeepers were present and asked him not to make a piece of work about it. William Axom – he was at Mr Neal’s barn when Foxley came for the chaff. He helped him put the chaff into the bags. Foxley said he had come for some chaff and corn too. He told Foxley not to take the corn as there would be a piece of work. Foxley said he did not care about the piece of work and would have it. William Foxley – he went for a load of chaff and Axom helped him to load the cart. The horsekeeper gave him some beer to bring some oats back for the mare. Axom asked him where he was going to put them and he said “in the cart”. Axom told him not to have them in the cart as there would be a bother. They put them into bags and put the bags on the cart. [Foxley admitted what he said was true, but declined to sign it]

item

Foxley, William,
Neal, William Johnson,
Want, George,
Axom, William

NORTHILL, Northill Highlands, stealing, oats, farm labourer, horsekeeper, carts