QSR1848/3/5/3

Depositions - James King charged with obtaining money under false pretences

14 April 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

William Pratt the younger of Totternhoe, farmer – on Saturday 1 April King came to him on the road near Well Head in the parish of Totternhoe and asked where his father was. His father was in a nearby field and he showed King where. King asked if anybody was at home to measure his soot – he said his mother was at home. He asked King where he had put the soot. King said it was in the field in sacks. King then went away towards their house. He has never seen any soot or sacks in their fields. Fanny Pratt, wife of William Pratt the elder of Totternhoe – King came to their house on April 1 and said he had left 18 ½ bushels of soot at 7d a bushel in the field. She paid him 10s and 9 ½ d. John Thorogood of Totternhoe, police constable – he took King prisoner on 13 April. King admitted he had the money from Mrs Pratt but said he had taken the soot. He said the soot was only measured by himself and that he had shot it on the heap. He has seen a heap in Mr Pratt’s yard but it is covered up with straw. William Pratt the elder of Totternhoe, farmer – he was in his field on 1 April and saw King talking to his son. King has not brought him any soot for nearly a month and there was no money due to him. King had brought him previously but when he did so it was always measured either in his presence or that of his men. Nothing has been added to the soot heap in his rickyard since the last week of March.

item

King, James,
Pratt, William,
Pratt, Fanny,
Thorogood, John

TOTTERNHOE, false pretences, farmer, soot merchant