Thomas Hall snr., Samuel Hall 14 and Thomas Hall jnr. age 11 were charged
with stealing at Fosdyke on the 19th November last,fourteen pecks of wheat,
the property of Mr J.W.Burnett. Mr Manniland endorsed the prosecution and
Mr F.Flowers the barrister appeared for the prisoners.

Mr J.W.Burnett deposed from certain details given by the constable, he went
to his barn and observed that some wheat was missing. He had no doubt
that a sample shown him was his wheat.John Pilmore, (constable of Kirton),
deposed that he had known the prisoner for years, and that he (Pilmore)
and Mews (constable of Sutterton) had watched the house of the prisoner on
the night of 19th of November.

About one o'clock in the morning, they observed a light in the upper rooms,
and presently the prisoner and his sons went away with a donkey.
A little after three, they returned with a sack of wheat over the donkey's
back, and they were taken into custody. When charged with stealing the wheat,
the oldest prisoner said that he had been taking some wheat to his boat,but
was too late for the tide, and therefore returned with it. John Mews,
constable of Sutterton, confirmed the evidence of the last witness.

Mr Flowers endeavoured to show that the wheat and footmarks of the
ass had not been identified, and pleaded earnestly for an acquittal,
especially of the two younger prisoners.

The jury acquitted the two younger prisoners, and found the older prisoner
guilty. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment and hard labour.

The Boston Quarter Sessions had been held
on December 31st 1849 and January 1st 1850.