QSR1868/3/5/11a

Depositions of Robert Dixon, farmer of Sutton. Benjamin Duffin, labourer of Potton. William Holmes, victualler of Holwell. George Smith, police officer of Biggleswade. William Hyde, victualler of Hitchin. In the case of James Inskip accused of receiving 5 bushels of potatoes knowing them to be stolen.

13 May 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

Robert Dixon: a farmer residing in Sutton. On 9 March he saw 2 potato pits in his garden were all right. The next morning the pits had been opened and potatoes taken from them. One of the pits contained Fluke potatoes, nearly 6 bushels and they had all been taken with the exception of a few small ones. The other pit contained Regent potatoes and about 4 bushels had been taken away. He had examined the samples of potatoes and had not doubt both samples were his potatoes. One sample had been taken from his pit and the other from a quantity of potatoes found at a place called Pinch Gut Hall. He prosecuted a man named Samuel Brittain for stealing them. Brittain was found guilty at the last Quarter Session for the county and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. Benjamin Duffin: he worked for James Inskip of Potton in March. About 5am on 10 March, Samuel Brittain and another man came into his master’s yard. This master gave the men 3 sacks and the 2 men left the yard together. His master told him he should see those 2 men on the road before he got to Sutton Turnpike and they would put 3 sacks of potatoes on the cart. He took his master’s horse and cart, by his orders, and near to Sutton Turnpike 3 sacks of potatoes stood on the side of the road. Brittain and the other man put them on the cart. He drove the cart through Biggleswade, until his master overtook him, and asked him if he had got the 3 sacks of potatoes. He told him he had. He drove the horse and cart to a public house called Pinch Gut Hall and when he got there his master took them from him and told him to go into the house for a pint of beer. When he came out the 3 sacks of potatoes had been taken away. On the Monday evening his master told him he would got to Hitchin with the horse and cart the next morning. William Holmes: he was a publican and keeper of the White Hart, Pinch Gut Hall. On Tuesday 10 March James Inskip came to the house with a horse and cart and asked if he wanted to buy any potatoes. He told Inskip he would and bought a sack of ‘Rocks’ and a sack of ‘Regents’. He afterwards took both sacks and delivered them to Superintendent Smith at Biggleswade. William Hyde: he was a publican and kept the Beehive public house at Hitchin. On 10 March he saw James Inskip who asked if he could leave a sack of potatoes at his house. He told him he could and after about 5 minutes the potatoes were brought to the house by a man. He afterwards gave them up to Superintendent Smith. He believed the potatoes were ‘Flukes’. Superintendent George Smith: he produced a sample of Fluke potatoes taken from Mr Dixon’s pit and a sample of potatoes taken from a sack found at William Hyde’s. The samples appeared to correspond. He produced a sample of Regent potatoes from Mr Dixon’s pit and a sample of potatoes found at William Holmes’s at Pinch Gut Hall. The samples appeared to correspond. Robert Dixon: on the morning the potatoes were stolen he traced footsteps from the pit to an arch by the side of the road between Potton and Biggleswade. It was about 160 yards from the pits. The footsteps were of 2 different persons. Statement of the accused: “he is a false boy”

item

Inskip, James,
Dixon, Robert,
Duffin, Benjamin,
Holmes, William,
Smith, George,
Hyde, William,
Brittain, Samuel

SUTTON, POTTON, Pinchgut Hall, Potton White Hart, receiving stolen goods, potatoes, farmer, victualler