QSR1867/2/5/2

Depositions of Samuel Bransom, police constable of Kempston. James Lester, market gardener of Kempston. In the case of Charles Cook accused of stealing a bushel of potatoes and a sack.

1 April 1867

From: 1867 To: 1867

PC Samuel Bransom: he was on duty at Kemspton about 9pm on Saturday 30 March. He saw the accused come out of Mr Lester’s house. Cook came out onto the road and looked around. Cook then went to a gate at the end of Mr Lester’s barn and he lifted the gate off. Cook went into Lester’s field, in which the barn is situated. He saw Cook come out of the field with something on his shoulders. Cook had nothing on him when he went into the field. He went to the accused in the field and said to him that he had something he had no right to. Cook made no reply and dropped the sack containing potatoes. He took Cook and the sack to Mr Lester. James Lester: he was a market gardener living at Kempston. The accused had been in his service for about a year and a half. The accused was a yardman and had keys for everything. On Saturday 30 Match the accused was brought to his house by the last witness and he was given a sack of potatoes. There was about a bushel in the sack. He untied the sack in the presence of the accused. The sack and potatoes were his property. The accused said that he hoped Lester would forgive him for it was the first time he had taken anything off the farm. The prisoner’s wages were 12 shillings a week.

item

Bransom, Samuel,
Lester, James,
Cook, Charles

KEMPSTON, stealing, potatoes, sack, market gardener