QSR1838/1/5/4

Depositions of Thomas Stonnell, labourer of Caddington. William Fisher, labourer of Luton. In the case of Daniel Hawkins accused of stealing hay and peas.

28 October 1837

From: 1837 To: 1838

Thomas Stonnell: William Fisher asked him to go with him to Daniel Hawkins house. Hawkins was not up. They waited in the street until Hawkins got up at about 6am. Fisher told Hawkins they must search the house for the peas and hay that were lost. Hawkins said he did not have them. Fisher asked him for the bag of peas and Hawkins went and fetched it. Fisher put his hand into the bag and pulled out a piece of paper. They afterwards took him to Mr Banners. William Fisher: he was servant to Samuel Crawley esquire and it was part of his duty to see that the sheep were properly fed. On Saturday 1 April Daniel Hawkins, the shepherd on Farley farm, brought about 3 strikes of chaff into Farley Green field and laid it down in the field upon some hay. He went back to the where the hay was about an hour later and turned the hay over. He saw the chaff and under it was a bag of peas. He went to Mr Banner, the bailiff, and told him there was something wrong going on in the field and asked him to let him have a man. He told Banner what he had seen and he sent him to get Thomas Godfrey to watch the spot. He went back to the spot and untied the bag of peas and put a piece of paper in the bag and tied it up again. He and Godfrey went some distance away and watched. About 1am Sunday morning they went away, but when they returned the truss of hay was gone as were the chaff and the peas. The bag the chaff was in was lying open empty. They went directly to Hawkins house at Aley Green and called him and said they wanted to speak to him. Hawkins said he would not get up yet. They watched the house and Hawkins came out about 6am. He charged Hawkins with stealing the hay, chaff and peas but he denied it. He went to the door and saw the hay lying in the barn. He asked Hawkins where the peas were and Hawkins replied he had given them to the hogs. He saw some in the trough but they were not all there. Hawkins said he had given some to his horse. They went back to the barn and Hawkins was going to untie the hay but he would not let him until a constable came. Hawkins fetched the peas and gave them to him. He opened the bag and found a piece of paper inside. Hawkins went back up Farley to Mr Banner, the bailiff, and he gave Mr Banner the peas. Hawkins denied having the hay to Mr Banner but then acknowledge he had one truss. He went back with Hawkins and Hawkins brought the truss of hay and put it back in the field where it had been taken from and asked Banner to forgive him. Banner said he would tell Mr Crawley and he would do as he pleased.

item

Stonnell, Thomas,
Fisher, William,
Hawkins, Daniel,
Crawley, Samuel,
Banner,
Godfrey, Thomas

CADDINGTON, Farley Green, stealing, hay, peas, bailiff