QSR1868/1/5/1

Depositions of Samuel Virgin, labourer of Ampthill in the employment of Edward Coleman, farmer and grocer. William Hillyard, police sergeant of Ampthill. In the case of Isaac Smith accused of stealing a bushel of oats, a pound and a quarter of tea, 28 nutmegs and a cake of soap.

25 October 1867

From: 1867 To: 1868

Sergeant William Hillyard: he was a police sergeant stationed at Ampthill. On the morning of 18 October he received the information that 3 sacks of peas and oats. He suspected the prisoner and went to his house at Ampthill. The prisoner’s house adjoined the farm yard of Edward Coleman, a farmer and grocer. He knew the prisoner was in Coleman’s service. In the prisoners barn he found a quantity of oats. He produced a sample from those oats and a sample given to him by Samuel Virgin. He also found a box in the barn lost. There was also 2 pounds of tea, a quarter pound of tea, a half pound of starch, 28 nutmegs and a cake of soap. The goods were worth 8 shillings. The packet of tea bore the name Coleman. Samuel Virgin: he lived at Ampthill and was employed by Edward Coleman. The prisoner was a labourer and also employed by Coleman and had charge of the horses at Ampthill. He served out the corn and food for the horses to the prisoner. The sample of oats was the property of his masters and corresponded with the oats he had been in the habit of serving the prisoner with lately. There was some tare seed among the oats which was rather unusual. It was a bad quality of oats. The prisoner had no business taking the oats from his master’s premises and the prisoner lived close to the prosecutors farm yard. Statement of the accused: he had bought the nugmeg and tea in the market.

item

Smith, Isaac,
Virgin, Samuel,
Coleman, Edward,
Hillyard, William

AMPTHILL, stealing, oats, tea, starch, nutmeg, farmer, grocer