QSR1837/1/5/9

Depositions and examinations - John West

4 November 1836

From: 1836 To: 1837

Thomas Smith of Toddington, labourer - he works for William Fowler of Toddington, farmer. Last week he prepared wheat for sowing for his Master by liming and brining it. On Wednesday he saw it in Mr Fowler’s barn. He locked the barn. Yesterday morning between 5 and 6am he saw about 2 bushels of the wheat were gone. When it was light he went in again to check it was gone and it was. He traced footsteps through the gateway and saw some wheat scattered towards Toddington. He then went to plough. About 8am he saw 2 boys in a double hedge, and being suspicious he went to see what they were after. They went through the hedge into the road and he saw West in the road with a barrow in which there was a sack. He went up the hedge. The boys saw him and ran away. He got into the road and said to West "you are loaded Master West". West said "yes" and went on. He went before West into the town and saw him go into his own house with the barrow and sack. He went and told his master, then went back and watched West’s house. When his master came they went into West’s house and searched for the wheat. They found some whet on the floor upstairs covered with straw. It was limed and brined the same as his Master’s. The samples produced come from the wheat in the barn and the wheat found in West’s house. William Fowler of Toddington, farmer - Smith told him about the missing wheat and he went with Smith to West’s hous. They found about 2 bushels of wheat upstairs. When West opened the door he said he suspected he had some of his wheat. West said "come in Sir, I am very sorry. I beg your pardon. It is the first time I have done such a thing", and told him the wheat was upstairs. He has no doubt it was his wheat. It is worth about 12s. John West - he was going to Chalton to get ½ bushel of wheat to sow on his bit of land and met Robert Pateman and Joseph Marsden. They took his barrow without saying anything to him, put the wheat in and wheeled it away up the hill. All at once they ran away, he does not know why, and so he then barrowed the wheat home. He does not know how they came by it. When he got home he looked in the sack and then he thought that as Mr Fowler’s man followed him so close it must be his wheat.

item

West, John,
Fowler, William,
Smith, Thomas,
Pateman, Robert,
Marsden, Joseph

TODDINGTON, Chalton, stealing, wheat, farm labourer, farmer, ploughing, pesticides