QSR1833/4/5/25

Depositions of John Williams, builder of Luton. Edward Taylor, corn dealer of Luton. Thomas Butlin, innholder of Luton. In the case of James Scrivener accused of stealing barley.

10 October 1833

From: 1833 To: 1833

John Williams: about 2pm he went up the yard whilst the prisoner was threshing barley in the barn. In a hovel adjoining the barn he saw a balk of unusual straw. On searching it he found a sack with corn in it. He covered it up again and went into the barn and asked what quantity of barley was reaped up. The prisoner said about 10 quarters within 2 bushels. He called Edward Taylor out of the barn and desired him to go and examine the sack. From that time he watched it in Mr Butterfield orchard and in the hovel. Between 7pm and 8pm the prisoner came and unlocked the barn door and then locked it again. The prisoner put the sack into a wheelbarrow and ran it out of the yard. As the prisoner was going into the street he stopped him. The prisoner was a tasker at work in the barn and had keys. The barley was the property of himself and Edward Taylor. Edward Taylor: he had heard the deposition of Mr Williams and it was correct. He went to look at the sack and found there was barley in it. After he took the prisoner he gave the sack of barley into the constables hands. Thomas Butlin: Mr Williams told him about 6pm that he suspected something wrong having found a sack of barley under some straw. He asked him to go and watch and he went into the yard about 7pm and hid himself in a hovel just opposite the barn door. About 7.30 he saw a man come up the yard and go into the barn. When the man came out he locked the barn doors. He saw the man move some straw in the hovel close to the barn. The prisoner out something in a wheelbarrow and whisked it away through the first gate. Before the prisoner got to the second gate, into the street, he laid hold of him and asked him what he had got. The prisoner was still holding the barrow. He took the prisoner to Mr Williams and going along the prisoner said it was the first time he had done wrong. He saw a sack in the barrow which was half full. The prisoner said it was a bad job and he was sorry for it. Statement of the accused: he had done it and knew he had done wrong.

item

Scrivener, James,
Williams, John,
Taylor, Edward,
Butlin, Thomas

LUTON, stealing, barley, corn dealer, builder, innholder