Cambridge Chronicle 26 Jan 1867: Arthur Peters charged with stealing hay from James Field Fetch

CAMBRIDGE DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS,

SATURDAY, JAN. 19.

(Before Major Pemberton and T. J. Ficklin, Esq.)

Arthur Peters, labourer, Trumpington, and James Parr, coal carter, Cambridge-place, Cambridge, were charged the former with stealing, and the latter with receiving a truss of hay, the property of Mr. James Field Fetch, who resides at Cambridge and has a farm at Trumpington, and stated that in consequence of information be received he accompanied the police on Thursday last to Parr’s house, and in the stable saw the hay now produced which he identified as his property; he knew it from its peculiarity being composed of rye-grass and trefoil. He had not sold any hay from the stack. Peters was employed to cart straw or hay to Cambridge when required. The truss found at Parr’s was worth about 2s 6d. Peters had occasion to come to his house on Thursday morning last and he had reason to believe that it was then that Peters took the hay to Parr’s premises. When Parr was asked where he got the hay from he said he did not know, some one put it in the stable. He said also that he had not paid for it or ordered it of any one. When he came home from work he found it in his stable. — Major PEMBERTON - Did you or the constable take any portion of the hay from the rack and compare it with the truss in the stable? — Witness — Yes, sir, and it corresponded. — Sergeant Maltby, Cambridge, went with p.c. Rayner, to the premises of Parr (hired of Mr. Reeves) when Parr said he could not account for the hay being in his possession, but added “I wish I had thought of it I would have asked Mr. Fetch to have taken the money the value of the hay, and so saved all farther bother.” — To p.c. Gurling, of Trumpington, Peters admitted taking the hay, but said he was badly shod, and he thought it would do him a little good: he was very sorry for it. He also told the Bench that he did take the hay; it was the first time, and he hoped the Court would have mercy upon him. — Mr; NAYLOR, for Parr, said there was no evidence of any felonious receiving on the part of the defendant Parr. The only thing against him was the finding of the hay in the stable which he hired, and which might have been put there without his knowledge. — The Magistrates committed both prisoners for trial at the Sessions, bail being allowed, which Parr procured.