QSR1862/1/5/22

Depositions of Ephraim Smith, labourer of Harrold. Ebenezer Wooding, labourer of Harrold. George Smith, police constable of Harrold. In the case of William Crouch accused of stealing a quantity of potatoes.

1 January 1862

From: 1860 To: 1862

Ephraim Smith: 1 November 1860 he lost some potatoes from a heap in Harrold. The next evening he lost double the quantity from another heap. He gave the information to the police and went with the policeman to a straw stack in the adjoining field where he saw some potatoes. They were the same sort as his own and missed with soil similar to his own. He valued the lost potatoes at 18 pence. He lost 2 sorts of potatoes. Ebenezer Wooding: on 3 November 1860 the prisoner called him up. The prisoner told him there were some potatoes and he would never have a better chance. The prisoner said he would hold the bucket whilst he got some from the middle of the heap. The prisoner said they could hide them in a straw rick in the other field. He took some from the heap and the prisoner told him that he had left the heap uncovered. They hid the potatoes and went on with their work. The potatoes belonged to Ephraim Smith. Crouch had been in the habit of calling each morning and they both worked for Mr Orlebar. PC George Smith: on 3 November he received information that some potatoes were lost from a field called Coxwell, the property of Ephraim Smith. He examined the heap and apparently 2 or 3 pecks had been taken away. Some were taken from one side of the heap and some from the there. He went with Smith to the straw in the adjoined field and saw about a peck of potatoes there. He watched the straw. Ebenzer Wooding came over and took the potatoes. He took Wooding into custody and from information received searched the prisoner’s barn. He found a peck of potatoes covered in straw. The prosecutor was shown the potatoes and believed them to be his. Then following Monday he went to Northampton for the prisoner but could not find him. On the Sunday he found another peck of potatoes in a hedge between the field they were lost and the prisoners house. He believed the prisoner had never returned to Harrold. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Crouch, William,
Smith, Ephraim,
Wooding, Ebenezer,
Smith, George

HARROLD, stealing, potatoes