QSR1831/3/5/17

Depositions of William Jeffery, constable of Toddington. John Anstee the younger, farmer of Chalton. William Sturman, labourer of Toddington. William Cleaver, miller of Toddington. In the case of Thomas Evans accused of stealing 2 1/2 bushels of wheat.

13 June 1831

From: 1831 To: 1831

William Jeffery: on Friday 3 June he went to Cleaver’s mill in Toddington to enquire after some stolen wheat. Cleaver showed him some that had come from Mrs Water’s at Toddington the previous day and he took a sample away. The following Monday he went with Mr Anstee of Chalton to the mill to fetch the wheat away, which he claimed was his property. The wheat was not properly cleaned for market and the was a good deal of chaff and soil in it. John Anstee: on the morning of 21 May his tasker William Sturman came and informed him that he had found the door of the wheat bean unlocked and some wheat had been taken from the heap on the floor. The wheat was undressed. Sturman was instructed to immediately dress up the rest of the wheat. On Friday 3 June he heard that there was a parcel of wheat at Cleaver’s mill at Toddington. He sent for a sample of it and on comparing it with the sample in the barn, he was satisfied it was his wheat. He took William Jeffery, the constable, with him to the mill and Jeffery took the wheat into his custody. He learnt fro William Cleaver that he had received the wheat from Thomas Evans who lodged with Mrs Waters on the preceding Thursday. William Sturman: he had lately been threshing wheat for Mr Anstee of Chalton. On 20 May he locked up the barn on returning on 21 May and found the barn unlocked. The heap of wheat appeared to have been thrown up. He thought about half a load of wheat had gone. He informed Mr Anstee of what had happened. He examined the samples of wheat now produced and believed them to be of the same sort of wheat and there was the same sort of soil in both samples, namely pig nut seeds, dock seed and black oats. William Cleaver: he was servant to his brother Mr Thomas Cleaver at the mill. He sometimes went round with the cart to collect grist. On 1 June he was in the town of Toddington with the cart and saw Thomas Evans, the prisoner, who came out of Joseph Cook’s and said there was grist at Mrs Waters house to go to the mill. He forgot it that day and when he called at Mrs Water’s, where Thomas Evans lodged, he was at home and went upstairs and fetched it down. Evans put it on the cart. There was about 2 bushels or more. He took it to the mill and it remained there until the morning of 3 June when William Jeffery came to enquire. He told Jeffery he had the grist from Mrs Waters and Jeffery took a sample of it. Afterwards Mr Anstee claimed the wheat as his. Jeffery came to the mill for the wheat and he delivered it in the cart to Jeffery’s house. Statement of the accused: he bought the wheat from a man named Townsend and gave 18 shillings for it. The man had a cart and 2 horses but he did not know who he was. He bought the wheat and the sack it was in. He did not look at the name on the cart.

item

Jeffery, William,
Anstee, John,
Cleaver, William,
Sturman, William,
Evans, Thomas,
Waters,
Cleaver, Thomas

TODDINGTON, Toddington Chalton, stealing, wheat, farmers, millers