QSR1862/1/5/13-14

Depositions of Frederic Phipps, butcher of Ampthill. Ruth Cooper, wife of Daniel, a tailor of Ampthill. Joseph Cartwright, labourer of Ampthill. William Hillyard, police constable stationed at Ampthill. James Bates, superintendent of police for the Ampthill division. In the case of William Hickson accused of stealing 2 trusses of hay and Jonathan Butler accused of receiving said trusses of hay.

19 December 1861

From: 1861 To: 1862

Frederic Phipps: both prisoners lived at Ampthill. William Hickson had been in his employ and was in charge of the stock. Hickson had no authority to remove anything on 14 December. He believed the hay to be his property and there were 12 or 14 lb of it. The hay had a peculiar flower in it. Samples were similar to the bulk. On 18 December he went into Ampthill Park with Superintendent Bates and was shown some hay littered about. It agreed with the other sample. He was unable to swear if it was all his property. His hay had been grown at Westoning. The hay had a peculiar smell. Ruth Cooper: she knew both prisoners. On Saturday, around dusk, she was at her own door and saw Hickson go up the street with a wheel barrow and 2 trusses of hay. He was going away from the prosecutor’s house. Hickson passed her door and turned the corner leading to Mr Coleman’s yard. She saw Hickson take the hay out of the barrow. No one except for Coleman, Field and Butler had premises up there. Joseph Cartwright: he had been in the employment of the prisoner Butler and on 14 December he had been working in his yard at the Back of the house. About 3pm Hickson came to the yard and said to Butler “I have 2 trusses of hay I want to part with”. Butler replied he wasn’t particular and plenty to last him until Spring. Butler also he did want it if it hadn’t been come by honestly. Hickson said he was cutting chaff for someone and that person had trusses to sell and he had to part with 2 trusses. Hickson said 2 trusses were not good enough for the person he was cutting the chaff for. PC William Hillyard: he saw Hickson with a truss of hay on his back. The direction he was going in made him suspect something was wrong. He followed Hickson and he laid the hay down at Pig Hill. He concealed himself where he could see the hay. Hickson passed him twice and them took up the hay and went up the hill with it. He lost sight of Hickson. He advised his Superintendent and accompanied him to the site but nothing was found. He later saw Hickson and asked what he had done with the hay. Hickson said he had taken it to his master’s premises. Next morning he found traces of hay leading from Butler’s yard across the gardens into the park. He took a sample from the park. He saw Butler at his yard and asked him where his stable was. They both went in and he examined Butler’s hay. Butler said they was none except for rough stuff. He searched and found the bulk mixed with the rough and asked Butler to account for it. Butler said he could not and when asked if he had bought any hay from Hickson, Butler said he had bought hay from anyone. He denied buying hay repeatedly but then said he had a truss off Hickson. Butler said he only had one and Hickson had taken the other to the park. He was directed to take Hickson and Butler into custody. At the police station, Hickson said to Butler that he would not have taken it if he had not have asked him to. Hickson also said he had gone to Butler and said he must have the hay back as the police were after it and that he had put the truss in the loft whilst Butler held the candle. Butler told him to shake it into the rough hay. Hickson said he had paid Butler back the 3 shillings he had given him for the hay and he had taken the other truss to the park to get rid of it. Butler heard Hickson and said it was correct about the money. Superintendent James Bates: he saw the prisoner Hickson and said he must acquaint his master with what he had heard about some hay. He following Monday he accompanied the prosecutor to the park and showed him some hay there. Phipps identified it as his. He instructed Hickson to be taken into custody. He found him the following day. Hickson said he would not have done it unless pressed by someone else and had received half a crown and sixpence from the party. The same evening he had gone to the party and said the police were after the hay and he must have it back. The hay had been mixed up among the rough hay. He took the other truss and took it into the park. He told Butler what Hickson had said and Butler said he had given Hickson 3 shillings for it but he had given it back. Statements of the accused: William Hickson – the boy was under the shed when he first went there and he was sawing some wood. He then went from there to Coleman’s shop and did not come back again. Jonathan Butler – “I am not guilty”.

item

Hickson, William,
Butler, Jonathan,
Phipps, Frederic,
Cooper, Ruth,
Cooper, Daniel,
Cartwright, Joseph,
Hillyard, William,
Bates, James,
Coleman

AMPTHILL, Ampthill Park, stealing, hay, butcher, tailor