Kentish Independent, 09 September 1865.
CHARGE OF STEALING HAY FROM THE BARACKS.
William Hodskins 44, of 6, Bloomfield Road, Plumstead, and William Tidy,
32. of Bexley Heath, were charged with stealing, and Henry Malings,
landlord of the "Green Man Tavern," Plumstead, with receiving five
trusses of straw, the property ot the Crown.
Barrack Sergeant E. Wright, of 40, Eleanor Road, Woolwich, was the
prosecutor, Major Sullivan, Barrack Master, R.A. being also present.
Mr. Daly, barrister, defended Malings.
Sergeant Newton, military police, said that on the previous evening he
saw a load, apparently of refuse straw, near the forage store in the
Barracks, and on examining it closely, saw that there were several
trusses of new straw at the bottom. Malings, who was there, said the
straw was his, but that he did not know there was any new amongst it,
Tidy was the driver of the horse and van, and Hodskins, who was also
present, was employed by the Barrack Department. They all denied knowing
anything of the new straw, of which he found 5 trusses at the bottom of
the van. The refuse straw was also in
trusses, having been used in soldiers' beds, and was very different to
new straw.
Thomas Lovett Howard, son of Mrs. Howard, of Powis Street, Woolwich, who
contracts for the purchase of the refuse straw at the Royal Artillery
barracks, said that he was present when the van was loaded. The old
straw was kept outside the store, and the new inside. Witness saw Tidy
bring some of the new straw out of the store and put it with the old,
Malings throwing the five trusses into the van. Witness's uncle, Mr,
Laurence, put up the refuse straw. Hodskins was sitting down close by
but witness did not know whether he saw the new straw loaded; he seemed
to be looking another way. The store was shut up when the van was
loaded. The straw was left outside for some time before the van came up.
Malings accompanying it. Witness could see that the five trusses were
new, and said to Tidy "That is not yours it belongs to the Barracks," to
which Tidy replied "What is that to do with you?" Malings was within
hearing.
John Laurence, uncle to the last witness, said that he pitched up the
old straw and did not see anything of the new, the five trusses being
put into the van before he got there. The lad counted the trusses of old
straw of which there were 37 and on coming to the new ones. Tidy said
"They have nothing to do with you." Malings was standing by, but said
nothing.
Mr. John Bampton, superior barrack sergeant, said he had charge of the
stores, and on the previous day directed the prisoner Hodskins to see 80
soldiers beds refilled with new straw, it was his duty to see that none
of the new straw was taken away with the refuse.
The prisoner Hodskins declared that he did not see any of the new straw
taken out by Tidy. It might have been done without his observation while
he was at the other end of the store.
At the suggestion of Police Sergeant Wright, the witness Howard was
recalled, and said that he saw Hodskins, early in the afternoon, hand a
quantity of loose new straw to Tidy, saying "Take that," and directly
after, Tidy fetched out another bundle. Hodskins was inside the store.
Mr Bampton said the value of the five new trusses of straw was 4s 5d.
Randall, the War Office detective, said that he charged the two first
prisoners with stealing, and Millings with receiving. The last named
prisoner said he had a load and a quarter in the van, but witness found
only a load (26 trusses) and one truss over, besides the five new
trusses.
Mr. Traill remanded the prisoners for a week, taking bail for Malings —
one surety in £80, and himself in £80.
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