QSR1861/1/5/10-11

Depositions of Michael Pateman, labourer of Toddington. George Baker, parish constable of Dunstable. William Horley, postmaster of Toddington. In the case of William Martin & William Clarke accused of stealing a peck of potatoes.

23 November 1860

From: 1860 To: 1861

John Barker: he resided up The Butts in Dunstable. The prisoner lived about 3 doors from him. Both he and the prisoner had barns. The barns all ran together and partitions were open at the top. You could climb from one to another. On 9 November he had a stocking axe and other tools in his barn. On 14 November he missed the axe from the barn. He informed Police Sergeant Cuttriss the next morning. Cuttriss showed him an axe which he identified as his property. The axe was worth about 2 shillings. Police Seregant Jeremiah Cuttriss: in consequence of information received he went after the prisoner and found him at work with the stock axe in a field of George Hopkins of Kensworth. The prisoner said it was his axe and was asked who he bought it off. The prisoner replied he bought it from Mr Markram, the blacksmith. He took the axe from Parkins and took him into custody. The prisoner then said he had not bought it but had taken it from the barn. Parkins said he did not mean to steal it. He showed the axe to Barker who identified it. Statement of the accused: he did not intend to steal it. There were 3 of them working together and they only had 1 axe. He took the axe whilst his was being repaired.

item

Martin, William,
Pateman, Michael,
Baker, George,
Horley, William,
Clarke, William

TODDINGTON, stealing, potatoes, parish constable, postmaster