Alfred Suckling, of Kibes Lane, Ware, pleaded not guilty to stealing potatoes on July 21st. Mr William Gray stated that he was the owner of a field of potatoes in Ware Rural. They were “Up to date” potatoes, and he had from time to time missed some from the field.
Mary Wilds, a little girl of 11 years of age, stated that she saw Suckling and another man pull up potatoes from the field, and tie them up in handkerchiefs. She also saw the defendant putting some apples in the handkerchief and she asked him for one.
Defendant denied taking the potatoes, and he accused the last witness of taking them. He said he was on the footpath and had some apples which he had brought from Wareside and put them in his handkerchief. Supt Duke said he had had so many complaints of the taking of turnips, potatoes, and other produce that he asked Mr Gray to bring this case forward, with a view of putting a stop to this kind of thing if possible. Defendant was fined 10 shillings, to go towards costs, and the Chairman told him he had not improved his case by making the accusation against the little girl Wilds.
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