QSR1861/2/5/4-5

Depositions William Brown, farmer of Biggleswade. John Furze, police constable of Wrestlingworth. Henry Quenby, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of James Brittain and James Bygrave accused of stealing 4 bushels of potatoes.

27 March 1861

From: 1861 To: 1861

William Brown: farmer who resided at Sunderland [?] Farm in Biggleswade. On the morning of 24 March he discovered a potato pt near his garden had been disturbed during the night. On examining the pit he missed 4 or 5 bushels of potatoes. There were 2 sorts of potatoes. He advised the police the following day. The potatoes produced by the police corresponded with those missed from the pit. In his presence PC Furze compared some footmarks about the pit with some in the field. They corresponded exactly. PC John Furze: on 20 March he received information that Mr Brown had lost potatoes from his pit. There were a number of footmarks about the pit. They were the marks of 3 distinct people. He traced the footmarks across a field and saw the person wore 2 right shoes. There were a number of feather scattered along the way. He followed the marks to within 20 yards of the house of James Rook and then found a bushel of potatoes. He compared them with those in Mr Brown’s pit and they corresponded. There were 2 sorts in the sack. PC Quenby searched the house of James Brittain. He followed and found some potatoes which corresponded with those found in Rooks house and those in Brown’s pit. He apprehended Brittain on the charge of stealing potatoes. On the day Bygrave was apprehended he examined his shoes and found them to be both right shoes. They compared with the marks left at Brown’s pit. There were no heels on the shoes. He also compared the shoes of Brittain with the footmarks at the pit and they corresponded exactly. PC Henry Quenby: he assisted John Furze in the search of Brittain and Rooks houses. He found 3 pecks of potatoes under the bed at Brittain’s house. James Bygrave lodged with Rook and in consequence of information received he was apprehended. Statement of the accused: James Brittain – nothing to say. James Bygrave – he had not had the shoes before the previous Monday and he knew nothing about the potatoes.

item

Bygrave, James,
Brittain, James,
Brown, William,
Furze, John,
Quenby, Henry,
Rook, James

BIGGLESWADE, stealing, potatoes, farmer, WRESTLINGWORTH