QSR1867/3/5/1

Depositions of John Smith, foreman to Mr Benjamin Green, a farmer of Colmworth but since resident in Harringworth, Northants. Thomas Sturgess, police constable of Keysoe. In the case of Charles Stock accused of stealing a shovel.

16 April 1867

From: 1867 To: 1867

John Smith: he was employed as a foreman by Mr Green about a year and half ago. About 6 weeks ago he missed a shovel from the stack yard at Colmworth. He missed it on 5 March and made enquiries after it among the people and labourers on the farm. He spoke to the prisoner about it at several different times. On 2 April he asked the prisoner again and he said he knew nothing about it. He suspected the prisoner had it and set the prisoner’s son about some work that required a shovel. He told the prisoner’s son to bring a shovel with him as he had lost one. The son said he had seen the shovel on his father’s parlour and it had the master’s brand on it. He waited until his master came up to Colmworth and them told him what had taken place. His master desired him to investigate the matter. On the same day he spoke to PC Sturgess and went with him to the prisoner’s house. They found the shovel in the sitting room. It was his master’s shovel and worth 2s 6d. PC Thomas Sturgess: on 11 April he went with the last witness to the home of the prisoner. He saw the prisoner’s wife and told her he had come for the shovel. She took him into the parlour and showed him the shovel. It had the letters ‘B.G’ branded on it. He afterwards saw the prisoner about it and charged him with stealing it. He took the prisoner into custody and took him before the magistrate on the same day. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say.

item

Stock, Charles,
Smith, John,
Green, Benjamin,
Sturgess, Thomas

COLMWORTH, KEYSOE, stealing, shovel, foreman, farmer