Oxford Times
20 Oct 1877 [p.3, col.d] |
stealing straw at asthall.
Stephen Paintin, Walter Pratley, John Pratley, Wilson Steptoe, and Joseph Newman, labourers, were charged with stealing, at Asthall on the 25th July,1877, a quantity of straw of the value of more than five shillings, the property of Robert Abraham.- There was a second court charging prisoners with stealing the straw, the property of Mr. T. Randle.- Prisoners pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Gough prosecuted, and Mr. J. Ashton cross defended the prisoner Paintin.
Mr. R. Abraham, the prosecutor, deposed that he was a farmer of Minster Lovell, and had also land at Asthall. In July last prisoner Paintin came to him and asked him if he had any straw to dispose of. He told him he had. Paintin told him it was for his master, Mr. Randle, and witness agreed to sell some at £3 12s. 6d. per ton in the field, or £4 at the station. An arrangement was made and it was the custom to weigh the straw at the station. In consequence of the agreement made with witness' son Paintin came over in a few days to tie up the straw, as Randle's servant. The other prisoners were employed under Paintin. Witness was away, and when he returned he asked Paintin what quantity had been taken away, and he said he did not know. Witness told him that when any straw was taken he should bring the weighbridge tickets to him, which he did afterwards.
Mr. T. Randle, West Bromwich, straw dealer, deposed that in consequence of what Paintin told him, he went to Minster Lovell and saw prosecutor and his son. He bought two ricks of straw from Mr. Abrahams at so much a ton on the ground and employed Paintin to tie it up. He agreed to give £3 12s. 6d. in the field, or if Mr. Abrahams delivered it at the station, at £4 per ton. It was left open which price should be paid, as it was convenient to either Mr. Abrahams, or witness to take it to the station.
Mr. Cross maintained that the straw belonged to Mr. Randle, but
The Chairman thought that it would be best to add account to the indictment charging prisoners with stealing the straw, the property jointly of Mr. Randle and Mr. Abrahams, and this was agreed to.
Mr. Randle continued his evidence, and said he employed Paintin to tie the straw at 5s. a ton, and he could employ whom he liked. They occasionally sold straw to farmers, but he gave no authority to Paintin to do so. His son had authority to sell straw.
Cross-examined: He had employed Paintin for some years, and he bore a good character. Paintin exercised his own judgment as to what was saleable straw or not.
Mr. Arthur Randle, son of the last witness, remembered going to the straw ricks of Mr. Abrahams on July 23rd, Paintin was there, and the other prisoners were there afterwards. On that day there were several loads of straw taken away. He had not at that time given any permission to remove straw, but subsequently gave permission to Paintin to sell 2 cwt. To David Dicks at 3s. 7½d. per cwt. He gave no permission to sell the straw at the bottom of the rick. Dicks paid for the straw. Mr. Abrahams knew about the sale to Dicks, because witness told him the next day. Mr. Abrahams said it would have to be charged on his bill. Witness went on purpose to tell Mr. Abrahams of the sale, but he could not say whether it was before or after the matter was in the hands of the police. He knew a person of the name of Bishop, and he knew that he had made a statement to Mr. Abrahams before witness went to him. He had been talking to the prisoners.
Cross-examined: He had been talking to the prisoners, but there was nothing said between them as to the evidence witness was to give. Witness saw all the good straw taken away, except that sold to Dicks. Paintin took away no straw.
Mr. Abrahams, recalled, said he remembered Bishop making a communication to him. Paintin called in the evening and witness told him that he heard some of the men had been taking straw; and that he should put the matter into the hands of the police. Paintin told the police that some had been sold to Dicks.
William Souch, a boy, living at Leafield, deposed that he was engaged by Paintin to tie up some straw. Witness took away "a little burden of straw," which he was told to do by the prisoner Wilson Steptoe. He took it to Steptoe's house, and he gave him a penny for it. All the prisoners took straw except Paintin. It was the second day that he saw the first straw taken. Paintin was there and told the others to take it. Walter Pratley took some on the Friday night; Steptoe took some the same evening and also the other prisoners except Paintin. It was the bad straw that was taken, but all the good straw had not been taken to the station at that time.
Cross-examined: He left work about five o'clock, and the straw was taken at that time. Paintin was by the rick.
Charles Pratley lived at Leafield, and was employed with prisoners to tie some straw. He and the prisoners took straw which Paintin gave them. Walter Pratley took two boltons, Steptoe one, and Newman one.
Cross-examined: They asked Paintin for a bit of straw, and he said they were to take as much as they liked. Paintin did not say "Please yourselves, I have nothing to do with it."
Edward Bishop was one of the men at work at the straw ricks. He was engaged by Paintin. He saw Walter and John Pratley take a bolton of straw each. Witness had a quarrel with Steptoe after the straw had been taken, and he went and told Mr. Abrahams of the straw being taken
P.S. Baker received information of the robbery on Saturday the 28th July.
The statements of the prisoners before the Magistrates having been read, Mr. Gough and Mr. Cross addressed the jury, who returned a verdict of not guilty against all the prisoners, and they were discharged. |
Walter PRATLEY, John PRATLEY |