LIBERTY PETTY SESSIONS, March 12
STEALING TURNIP TOPS BY WHOLESALE 

William Stratton and George Constable, both of St Albans, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a quantity of turnip tops (about 12 bushels) from lands of Edward Brown, Esq., of Oaklands, near St Albans, on the morning of that day (Saturday) the 12th inst. Mr Blagg, who appeared for the prosecution, called the attention of the Bench to the desperate encounter, which had occurred on police-constables Randall and North tracing the sacks of turnip tops to the cottage of Stratton, in Dog yard, St Albans. North appeared in court with several scars and bruises on his face; the prisoner Stratton a frightful figure, with blood still flowing from his temples. Police-constable Randall exhibited an axe with which Stratton threatened to strike him. The Magistrates said they could not then dealt with the assault, but only with the charge of stealing the turnip tops, for which they would award the highest punishment the law recognised for the first conviction in such cases - one month's imprisonment with hard labour, but if ever again convicted it would be much heavier.