QSR1833/4/5/23

Depositions of Lettice Howkins, widow of Thurleigh and Robert Barns, labourer. In the case of James King accused of stealing a quantity of sawed wood.

7 October 1833

From: 1833 To: 1833

Lettice Howkins: a widow occupying a large farm in Thurleigh. She had some parcels of sawed wood lying near a saw in one of the closes near the house. She and her son missed some at different times but could not discover where they had gone. In consequence of information from one of her labourers she had reason to suspect James King and carried out a search of his house. They found several pieces of wood. King was put in the custody of the constable. Her son swore to the wood as her property. Robert Barns: a labourer working on Mrs Howkins’s farm. He lived next door to jams King and about 4 o’clock he heard a great noise in King’s house as if a person was lagging up a parcel of wood. He went to his mistress as soon as he got up and told her what he had heard. He had first met William Howkins, the son, who had asked him if he had heard a noise in his neighbour’s home. William Howkins: son of Mrs Howkins and he worked on her farm. He had several times missed some wood from a close near the house. On 6 October he went with the constable to James King’s house and found several pieces of sawn wood. He had no doubt it was the property of his mother. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

King, James,
Howkins, Lettice,
Barns, Robert,
Howkins, William

THURLEIGH, stealing, wood