QSR1868/3/5/11b

Depositions of Thomas Harridge Inskip, farmer of Sutton. John Smith, labourer of Sutton. Benjamin Dufifn, labourer of Potton. William Holmes, victualler of Holwell. George Smith, superintendent of police. In the case of James Inskip accused of receiving 3 bushels of potatoes knowing them to be stolen.

13 May 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

Thomas Harridge Inskip: a farmer residing at Sutton. On the afternoon of 9 March his potato pits were all safe. The next morning he found that one of the pits in the field close to his house, containing large ‘Rock’ potatoes had been opened. He missed between 3 and 4 bushels. He afterwards saw the potatoes with Superintendent Smith. He had no doubt the sample produced corresponded. John Smith: he was a labourer and worked for Thomas Inskip. In September he dug up some Rock potatoes for his master and pitted them. He afterwards helped to sort them. He examined 2 samples and had no doubt they were his master’s potatoes. 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: having received information that some potatoes had been stolen and taken to Hitchin market he went to Hitchin in search of them. He saw Benjmain Duffin coming into the market with a horse and cart. He afterwards went to Pinch Gut Hall, a public house about 2 miles from Hitchin on the road towards Biggleswade and Sutton. In a barn there he found a sack containing between 3 and 4 bushels of Rock potatoes. He took them away. He produced a sample from Mr Inskip’s pit and a sample from the potatoes he had found at Pinch Gut Hall. Statement of the accused: “I leave it to my counsel”

item

Inskip, James,
Inskip, Thomas Harridge,
Duffin, Benjamin,
Holmes, William,
Smith, George,
Smith, John,
Brittain, Samuel

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