QSR1838/1/5/20

Depositions of John Gray, yeoman of Holwell. William Jarvis, yeoman of Holwell. Benjamin Batten, yeoman of Hitchin. In the case of Richard Hall accused of stealing a bushel of barley.

20 December 1837

From: 1837 To: 1838

John Gray: he was the keeper of the White Hart in Holwell. Richard Hall, the prisoner, had been in his service since harvest. On Wednesday December Hall was threshing barley for him. He was from home that day and did not return until Thursday night. He heard of Hall having taken off. He examined the barley in the bag produced by the constable. He could not sweat to it being his barley but it was as like his as it could possibly be. William Jarvis: on Wednesday 6 December he was going from Ickleford to Holwell across the field and met Richard Hall. Hall had a sack on his shoulders containing something which appeared to be corn. There appeared about a bushel of it. Hall told him he worked for John Gray and lived at Ickleford. Thinking that Hall had something he should not, he called at Gray’s and told of the circumstances to Gray’s wife. Benjamin Batten: on Thursday 7 December he was sent for by Mrs Gray. By her directions he went into her barn and found Richard Hall at work there threshing barley. He told Hall he wanted him and Hall asked what for. He told Hall it was for the 3 bushels of barley which Jarvis had met him carrying. Hall said he only had one bushel and had taken it from the barn. He took Hall into the house and left him in the custody of George Grundon whilst he went to fetch Jarvis. On his return Grundon said Hall had been telling him that he took the barley to John Bennett’s house at Ickleford. He went to Bennett’s house. Bennett’s wife was at home and she went upstairs. He followed her and found by the side of the bed a bag of barley. The bag was marked ‘J.B. Hall’. Hall said he would not have done it had it not been for Bennett. Statement of the accused – Richard Hall: nothing to say.

item

Hall, Richard,
Gray, John,
Jarvis, William,
Batten, Benjamin

HOLWELL, Hitchin, ICKLEFORD, stealing, barley, yeoman