QSR1848/4/5/25

Depositions and examination - Abel Crouch of Harrold charged with stealing a door jamb (value 2s) and a piece of deal plank (value 3d) belonging to Thomas Philip Earl de Grey

10 October 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

Joseph Neale of Harrold, constable of the Rural Police - on Friday 29 Sept about 11pm he was on duty at Harold and met Crouch coming from the direction of the manor farm belonging to Earl de Grey where some buildings have been pulled down. Crouch was carrying a board and he asked where he got it from. Crouch offered to show him and pointed out a building formerly a stable and now used as a cottage for a horsekeeper. It was a deal board or door jamb. He took Crouch into custody and searched his house where he found several other pieces of wood, and as much as a cartload of what carpenters call waste wood, which he said the carpenters had given him leave to take. He produces several pieces, including part of a deal plank which is identified by Mr Edey as belonging to Earl de Grey. Henry Brashier of Harrold, labourer - he is employed by Earl de Grey and has been working at Harrold for several months. He lives in the cottage which was formerly a stable. On 29 Sept Abel Crouch, Christopher Crouch, Charles Robinson and several others were at his house. Soon after 10pm Robinson, Christopher Crouch and John Moore left. Abel Crouch was then lying on the bed asleep. He woke him and he went away. He did not see Crouch take anything. About ¼ hour later Neale brought Crouch back to his house, charging him with having taken a deal board or door jamb. He recognised the board as one that had been lying by his bed in his cottage that evening. The bedroom is next to the outer door of the house, and Crouch would have left the house without being seen by anyone in the sitting room where he and his companions were. He stayed in the sitting room until Neale brought Crouch back to him. Thomas Edey of St Neots (Hunts), carpenter - he is employed by Earl de Grey at Harrold and other places. He knows the door jamb and the piece of deal plank produced to be Earl de Grey’s property. The door jamb is worth about 2s and the piece of plank 3d. He never gave Abel Crouch permission to take any wood from the premises, but on Monday 28 Sept said he might take home some shavings. Abel Crouch - nothing to say

item

Crouch, Abel,
Neale, Joseph,
Brashier, Henry,
Edey, Thomas,
Earl de Grey,
Crouch, Christopher,
Robinson, Charles,
Moore, John

HARROLD, St Neots, Harrold Manor Farm, police constable, horsekeeper, carpenter