QSR1836/1/5/14-15

Depositions and examinations - Samuel Woods and George Poole of Swineshead (Hunts) charged with stealing 4 loaves of bread (value 2s 6d) from the hosue of William Barrack

17 November 1835

From: 1835 To: 1836

William Barrack of Riseley, miller – he occupies about 14 or 15 acres of land at Riseley and a windmill, and with it a cottage on the land near the windmill. He uses the cottage to bake bread and other things. His miller Henry Gale sleeps there. [annotated ‘sic although Gale says this was not the case’]. He let a small piece of the land to Woods, and he and Poole were digging potatoes there on 10 November. On that day he baked his bread as usual at the cottage, and the dough was carried to the cottage near enough for the prisoners to have seen it. His wife made the bread and put the dough in the oven. He went into the cottage about 6.30pm and took 2 small cakes of bread out of the oven, leaving 4 loaves in it which were not ready to draw. He fastened up the oven door and the window shutters and locked the house. About 9pm he went to the cottage with the miller to get the loaves. The window shutters were down, a pane of glass taken out and the window shut. On going in he found the loaves gone. From the traces he saw outside the window he suspected the two prisoners. The next morning he went to Woods’ house, but did not mention the subject to him. He loitered about the place and went a little way with Woods who was going to his work. He then went to Woods’ house and searched the barn. He moved some wood and some straw and found some bread, broken, lying beneath tied in a handkerchief. The bread was not well baked. Pieces of it corresponded with other pieces he had picked up in and about the cottage from where the bread was stolen. He has no doubt it was his bread. He spoke to Woods’ wife, who cried and said her husband would not have done it if it had not been for Poole. He went to Poole and told him if he would fetch Woods and go with him to a public house they would settle it. Poole fetched Woods and they agreed to give him 10s for his bread and his time, and he was to say nothing more about it. They gave him 5s and he returned the handkerchief to Woods. The gentlemen at Swineshead told him he had done wrong and must take the prisoners before a magistrate. He therefore obtained a warrant and had them apprehended. Henry Gale, late of Risely but now of Hail Weston (Hunts), miller – in early November he was living at Riseley as miller to Mr Wm Barrack. On 10 November he was with Mr Barrack about 6.30 and saw the loaves in the oven when he left, and saw him lock up. He went to Riseley village to sleep and went to the mill with Mr Barrack the following morning. They went to the cottage and discovered it had been broken into and the loaves were gone. Samuel Woods – he was going with Poole from Riseley that night and the bread lay by the side of the road on the opposite side from the gate leading to the mill. At first they did not know what it was. They kicked a piece and found it was bread. Poole told him to take it up and come along. Poole picked it up and he put it all into his pockets. He put it into the barn when he got home. Poole would not have any as he said it was hardly fit to eat. He did not break into the house or touch the windows. George Poole – he was with Woods when the bread was found. When they got to Woods’ house he would not have any of it. Woods put it into the barn.

item

Woods, Samuel,
Poole, George,
Barrack, William,
Gale, Henry

RISELEY, SWINESHEAD, stealing, bread, miller, windmills, baking, potatoes