William Hardy, and Henry Goward were charged with having stolen four coombs of wheat, from the mills of Messrs. Candler, of Saxlingham. Mr. Evans & Mr. C. Cooper, conducted the prosecution and Mr. O’Malley, defended Hardy, and Mr. Palmer, Goward.

Mr Candler spoke of the fact of a quantity of Wheat having been stolen from the mills. Hardy had had the entire charge of the windmill for about a year. He had the authority of sell or deliver any of the wheat. Corn was frequently sent from the water-mill to the wind-mill to be ground. On the 17th of May, Hardy told him that a hundred coombs of wheat had been received at Diss. He went to the wind-mill on the 30th, when he supposed the there were only forty coombs. On that day he saw sprinkling of barley on the steps of a ladder leading from the stone floor to the corn floor. The wheat in the mill was chiefly Spalding wheat.

Mr. Nelson Beddingfield, of Norwich, said, that on Saturday, the 29th of May, he lent to Goward a bay blind Mare, and a dark green luggage cart, having on it “ Nelson Beddingfield, Norwich. Goward ordered it about ten o’clock and left at half past ten. He had a shawl with him, with something tied up in it about the size of a bushel. He had also a horse cloth. On being asked if he wanted a ticket, he said he was going through Stoke. The Cart returned in the afternoon, with Roberts the Policeman with it. No other cart of his was let out on that day. The next day the policeman came to him for the cart, which he lent to them.

Benjamin Daniels deposed, that he was a publican, residing at Saxlingham. His house was 15 yards from the road leading to Hempnall, which leads to Mr. Candler’s mill. A person coming that road from Norwich would pass Stoke to the mill, but it was not the direct way. Turning off to Hempnall he could get to Mr. Candler’s mill. A man with a horse and cart called at his house on Saturday May 28 th, Mr. Beddingfield’s name was on the cart. There was in it a package, something in a horse cloth; the man stopped at his house half an hour.

Sarah Ashley Hutchinson, lived at Saxlingham. In May last, her father kept the gate there. On Saturday, she saw Goward pass through the gate with a horse and cart, he was going to Norwich; the load was covered with horse –rug; the gate is about 500 yards from the mill.

Ezra Brandford was publican at Swainsthorpe, kept the “Dun Cow”, on Ipswich Road. He saw Goward on 29th of Mary, coming with a horse and cart. He asked him what load he had. He said “What you are loaded with is very heavy“; Prisoner answered “Yea it is.“ He could not be positive about his dress.

George Roberts, (policeman) said, he stopped Goward on the 29th of May, coming with a horse and cart. He asked him what load he had. He said “What is that to you – that is my business”. He then looked under the horse-cloth and saw some sacks, as asked Goward where he got them. He said, “That is my business – I shall tell your Master“. There were four sacks of corn and half a bushel in another sack. He took prisoner into custody, and left him with an officer who was with him, and brought the sacks to the “Waggon & Horses”. They contained wheat, and barley mixed in with it. There was no barley at the bottom of the sacks – only at the top.

Henry Hambling, (Superintendent of Police), resided at Sprowston, he said - He hired Mr. Beddingfield’s horse and cart, on Sunday May 20th, and went with it in the morning to Messrs Candler’s mill. He went again with it to Mr. Hardy’s house in the evening, between eight and nine. Hardy was not at home. But came in soon after he arrived there. He (witness) asked if there had been a cart at the mill the day before. He said “No”. He afterwards asked if he knew of a person named Goward, to which he said “No”. He then took him into custody, charging him with robbing his master.

John Houchen was a miller, at Saxlingham, flour dresser, in the employ of Mr. Candler. Prisoner Hardy was his father in law. On Sunday May 30th, he saw Hardy at his house. He went to Norwich with him on that day at two o’clock. They went to Isaac Hardy’s at Peafield. The prisoner asked Isaac Hardy how he was, and said the he wanted to see Self. Prisoner said “ I hear there is a rum job out “. He sent out a little girl to Brazen-doors to see Self. They went to a public house in Peafield. They went to a second, and afterwards to a third public house, (the Ram). At the Ram they saw Self. His father said to him (Self) that there was a rum job out. Self in reply said “Goward is in the Castle. He asked prisoner whether they could swear to wheat. He said he did not know and knew nothing about it. He said, if he did he must hold his own, and they could get over him. Self said he knew Goward would not split. He could not hear all their conversation. He (witness) and his father, the prisoner went home in the evening.

Examined by Mr. O’Malley, Hardy said in his conversation “ It is no matter to me, I have nothing to do with it: Self did not say he (Hardy) had anything to do with it. On Saturday Cushing (?) went from the water-mill to the wind-mill, for some bags of corn, and Hardy returned with him to the water-mill, where staid a little while, after which he went home; and he (witness) went with him, and staid with him nearly two hours.

Isaac Hardy, miller, Peafield, was cousin to Hardy the prisoner; on the 30th May last, prisoner and Howchin came to his house. He (witness) was in in bed; he then got up, after a short time prisoner wanted to see Self he did not why he wished to see him; but then sent for Self, afterwards, he, the prisoner, and Howchin, went to the Ram, where they saw Self.

Samples of Wheat were produced before Whitherford from each sack, which Mr. Candler examined, and said he believe to be his. The horse rug was also identified.

Mr. Palmer addressed an address on behalf of Hardy, in which he argued that Mr. Candler’s identification of the wheat was insufficient to justify the Jury in returning a verdict of guilty. He alluded to the evidence of Inspector Hambling as being unsatisfactory, and his conduct in the whole affair as highly reprehensible. He adverted strongly to the injustice of private examinations as had taken place, to which professional advisers were excluded.

The jury after a short consultation returned a verdict of guilty. The prisoners were sentenced to seven years transportation.

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WALKER & Co. PRINTERS, CHURCH STREET. ST. MILE'S, NORWICH.

Millbank Prison Register

Register No.           

Pent., Ward & Cell   

Name                     

Age                        

Marr or Single, No of Ch.  

Read and Write               

Trade or Profession         

Convicted When             

              Where              

Spec. Descr. of Crime      

Sentence                        

Received When               

               From               

Prev. Convictions                 

Spec. Remarks & A/cs of Visits      

Pages in Misconduct Bk & Gov's Jnl 

12889.             

2 B 11,  2 B 8,  General Ward.

William Hardy.

31yrs.

Married.

Imp.   (imperfect)

Miller.

30th June 1847.

Norwich Sessions.

Stealing wheat from his employer.

7yrs.

4th Oct 1847.

Norwich.

Never before in prison.

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Copyright © Jonathan Neville 2006