QSR1862/4/5/1

Depositions of Solomon Holland, hay dealer of Totternhoe. William King, grocer of Dunstable. William Rodwell, baker of Dunstable and Jeremiah Cuttriss, police sergeant of Dunstable. In the case of William Holland accused of stealing a truss of hay.

28 July 1862

From: 1862 To: 1862

Solomon Holland: a dealer in hay and straw at Totternhoe. On 23 July he had part of a rick of clover hay standing in Richard Howe’s farm yard at Dunstable. The prisoner was working for him binding the hay. On the morning of 24 July he went to William King’s stable and saw part of a truss of hay and 10 bands, part hay and part straw. He knew them to be his. He took one of the bands and part of the hay away with him and went to Mrs Sc[?] farm yard where the prisoner was at work. He said to him “ain’t this my band old gentleman” and the prisoner replied “yes that is and I had it from your stack”. The prisoner said he had the clover from the stack and had taken it to King. He gave the band hay to Rodwell. William King: a grocer at Dunstable. On 22 July the prisoner brought a truss of hay to his house for sale. It was clover hay and he gave 2 shillings 6 pence for it. On 24 July, Sergeant Cuttriss came to see him about it and he gave him what was left of the hay. There was little more than half a truss. William Rodwell: on 22 July he saw the prisoner go into King’s Yard with a truss of clover hay. He knew the prisoner was working for Solomon Holland and gave the information to Holland. On 24 July he went with Solomon Holland to King’s. Holland showed him a band and a little clover hay which he identified as his own. He went with Solomon Holland to Mrs Scroffs [?] farm yard where the prisoner was. Solomon Holland asked the prisoner if he had any of his hay. After firstly denying it, the prisoner said he had taken the hay from the clover rick. Solomon Hollnad left the band and a little clover hay with him which he gave up to PC Cuttriss. Sergeant Cuttriss: on 24 July he went to King’s and was given part of a truss of clover hay. He went to Mrs Scroff’s [?] farm yard, where the prisoner was at work binding hay. He asked the prisoner about the hay and the prisoner replied he had bought the hay from Mr Howes farm yard and had sold it for 2s6d. He asked the prisoner who had given him authority to do so and the prisoner said “no one”. He took the prisoner into custody. Statement of the accused: he had the hay. He knew he had been a little worse for beer when it happened.

item

Holland, William,
Cuttriss, Jeremiah,
Holland, Solomon,
King, William,
Rodwell, William,
Howe

DUNSTABLE, TOTTERNHOE, stealing, hay, hay merchant, grocer, baker