QSR1863/4/5/11

Depositions of George Mardlin, police constable of Turvey. John Fobee, farmer of Steventon. John Glidwell, labourer of Steventon. In the case of Robert Toll accused of stealing barley.

26 September 1863

From: 1863 To: 1863

George Mardlin: 21 February he went to the premises of Mr Fobee at Steventon. Fobee showed him some barley. He took some of the barley to the prisoner’s house. He apprehended the prisoner at 11 Bedford Street, Walworth, London on 14 September. He had a warrant for him on the charge of stealing barley from Mr Fobee. He wished for the prisoner to be remanded so he could obtain further information. [additional examination] he matched a sample from the barley at Mr Fobee’s house with barley found at the prisoner’s house. The barley had been found in a bag in the house. He did not see anyone at the house. He also found some barley chaff in the manger. The prisoner absconded. John Fobee: on 21 February, about 4am, he saw a person under the cattle shed on his premises. He went to the end of the barn and saw a bag filled with something. The person in the yard ran away and he ran after him. It was a dark morning. As the prisoner was getting over the gate he caught hold of him and said “Let me see who you are?” He saw it to be Robert Toll. Toll ran away and he went to see what was in the bag. The found the bag was full of barley. He went to the farm and found it locked. Mardlin came and he showed him the barley. He showed Mardlin some barley in his barn and they then went to Toll’s house. They found Toll’s wet clothes with some barley sticking to them. Mardlin took possession of a bag. [cross examination] the prisoner had been 9 yards from the barn when he first saw him. The barn door was locked. He did not know how a person could get the barley but without unlocking the door. The barley had been in a heap and he could not see any barley had been taken from the heap. John Glidwell: he threshed some barley for Mr Fobee in February. He observed that as he threshed the heap did not get any bigger. He heard Toll say he could get into the barn with a bit of stick. This was said at the Cock at Steventon.

item

Mardlin, George,
Fobee, John,
Glidwell, John

TURVEY, Steventon, stealing, barley, farmer