QSR1897/1/5/1

Depositions of George Mooring, Ernest Moss, Walter Chesham, Lizzie Mooring and Frederick Cheshire. In the case of James Hedges, accused off stealing a quantity of iron parts off a horse power of a chaff cutting machine.

4 January 1897

From: 1897 To: 1897

George Mooring: Living at Onions Farm, Caddington. On Thursday 31st December the prisoner called at his farm about 12.45pm. The prisoner asked him for rabbit skins and he replied that he had none. The prisoner then asked him to sell him some old iron lying in the yard. He bargained with the prisoner and sold the prisoner the iron parts. The prisoner gathered the iron into a pile and said that he would return with his truck to fetch the iron parts in the afternoon. The prisoner left and returned in the evening about 5pm. He saw the prisoner load the iron into his truck and the prisoner asked him if he had any more to which he replied that he hadn’t. The prisoner referred to some wheels he had seen and offered to buy them. He refused at first as he had need of them as spares for his plough, however the prisoner increased his offer and he sold them to the prisoner. The prisoner put them into his truck and asked him if he had anyone to help him. He saw no more of the prisoner until the next day. The next morning about 9am he saw something on the grass in the meadow. He went to it and found it was a part belonging one of his machines. From enquiries made he suspected the piece had been stolen and he informed the police. The prisoner was returned to the farm by police constable Cheshire, upon which he questioned why the prisoner had stolen the iron parts. The prisoner replied that he had bought the parts to which he said that the prisoner had not bought the iron and it was not mentioned during their conversation the day before. The prisoner asked to remove the pieces from his truck and to be left to go. He inspected the truck and found pieces of iron the prisoner had picked up in the yard, but nothing that the prisoner had bought from him. [Cross-Examined] Nothing whatsoever was said about spindles. [Cross-Examined by Prisoner] I sold the prisoner nothing but the old iron and the wheels. [Re-Examined] He bought the machine for £7 10s and had agreed to sell it to a friend for £5. Ernest Moss: Ploughman for Mr. Mooring of Caddington. On Thursday 31st December at about 4.50pm he was called from the stable by the prisoner. The prisoner asked him to give him a lift with an iron part onto his truck. He said to the prisoner that he didn’t think Mr. Mooring would let the prisoner take two driving spindles, to which the prisoner replied that he had bought the parts. He then helped the prisoner to put the parts into his truck. He returned to his work but before leaving he saw the part fall off the truck. The prisoner asked him to tell Mr. Moor that he would return for the part in the morning with an empty truck. When the prisoner left he had iron pieces and the driving spindles in his truck. The next morning about 10am he heard the hammering of iron and found the prisoner. He then went to inform his master. His master was absent so he went with the master’s daughter to the prisoner. Miss Mooring told the prisoner to stop breaking up the horse power of a chaff cutting machine to which the prisoner replied that he had bought the parts and would not stop. The prisoner broke the iron part and told them that they could do what they liked. Walter Chesham: Farm labourer of Onions Farm, Caddington. On Friday morning about 10am he was with Ernest Moss. He heard knocking and went to investigate. He found the prisoner breaking up the horse power of a chaff cutting machine. He asked the prisoner if he was doing wrong and the prisoner replied that he had bought the part. He waited until Miss. Mooring arrived and heard what she said to the prisoner. Lizzie Mooring: Daughter of Mr. Mooring of Caddington. On Friday morning Ernest Morris came to her and, in consequence of what he said, she went to the yard. She saw the prisoner breaking the horse power. She asked the prisoner to stop breaking the part until her father arrived, but the prisoner refused and broke a piece. She knew that there had been a deal between her father and the prisoner but knew nothing of it and she was certain the prisoner had not paid for the part. Frederick Cheshire: Police constable stationed at Slip End. On Friday 1st January at about 10am in consequence of information he went in search of the prisoner. He found two spindles which were identified by Mr. Mooring. He then went to Caddington and from information he went back to Mr. Mooring and found the prisoner in the farm yard. He asked the prisoner what he was doing and the prisoner replied that he had bought the iron parts the day before. James Hedges: “I bought these cog wheels and two spindles for 3s and 6d. That is all I have to say”

item

Mooring, George,
Moss, Ernest,
Chesham, Walter,
Mooring, Lizzie,
Cheshire, Frederick,
Hedges, James

LUTON, CADDINGTON, SLIP END, stealing, iron, police constable, ploughman