n May 1851 Robert found himself in trouble with the law, the following appeared in the Berkshire Chronicle on the 17^thMay 1851:

BOROUGH POLICE – On Wednesday last, before W. Dredge, Esq., Mayor, E. W. Gray and John Kimber, Justices. Robert Newton, James Salter, Joseph Geater and James Dibley, were brought up on remand for stealing hay, from Mr. P. Wells. Several witnesses were present, who had been summoned to give evidence and the witnesses having been ordered to leave the room, Joseph Field was examined. He had been employed to cut the hay, he was present from two in the morning until half past 12 o’clock in the day, during that time did not see either of the prisoners near the rick, he left Mr. Wells’ man to go to dinner at half past 12 o’clock, was absent about three quarters of an hour, did not notice or know how much hay was left cut when he left for dinner, nor did he observe any difference in it’s state when he returned from dinner, nor did he hear any one observe on the tambled state of the hay on his return. This statement having been made which was known to be false, Field was transferred to the bar and charged this the other prisoners.

Henry Preston then said that he saw the prisoners Geater and Dibley at the rick lying down, and that the last witness was present with him and must have seen him; that on his leaving the rick with Field to go to dinner, he and Field had a conversation about the quantity of hay, and that he told Field there were five trusses cut, and that Field said there would be about 15 trusses more.

Elija Carter, another witness, proved that Geater and Dibley were at the rick singing, and that Field was there. He also saw Field talking to Salter and one of the other prisoners. Other witnesses proved seeing Salter near the rickyard with his cart, with hay in it.

Evidence was also produced that Geater and Dibley had decamped, and stated that they had run away about some hay; and another witness proved that Geater had told him where he had taken some of the hay.

They all except Field, who was bound over to appear at the sessions, were committed for trial.

At the time of the trial Robert was ill. The following report appeared in the Reading Mercury, dated 12^th July 1851:

QUARTER SESSIONS – The Midsummer Quarter Sessions for this town were held yesterday, (Friday) before H Selfe Selfe, Esq., Recorder; W. Dredge, Esq., Mayor J. Alexander, E. W. Gray and J. Kimber, Esqrs.

James Dibley, 16, Joseph Gater, 22, James Salter, 43, and Joseph Field, were charged with stealing three trusses of hay, the property of Mr. Philip Wells, on the 23^rd April. Robert Newton was charged with receiving a quantity of hay of Mr. Wells’s knowing it to have been stolen, but being ill, his case was not gone into. Mr. Wiliams appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Somerset defended Salter. – Mr. Wells stated that, on the 23^rd April, he had a stump of hay standing in a meadow on the Wash Road; that he employed Field to cut it up that day; when the hay was brought home, he expressed surprise at the smallness of the quantity. Mr. Somerset cross-examined Mr. Wells as to the identity of the hay; the witness said, the hay found on the premises of Salter and Newton he believed belonged to him. – Henry Preston said he was employed to help Field tie the hay in Slocock’s meadow; when they returned from dinner, he said, “Bless me, how the hay is tumbled about,” and found that three trusses were gone. Dibley and Gater were lying under the rick, and he afterwards saw them talking to Salter near Abel’s garden.

Elijah Carter, groom, who took the hay home, saw Dibley and Gater near the rick, and Field spoke to them, and told witness not to come for the second load until 3 o’clock. Salter was in the road near. G. Deane said he and Justice, a watchman, traced shattered hay from the rick to Salter’s and Newtown’s premisies, and found the bundles of hay, now produced, in their stables.

Justice corroborated Deane’s evidence. G. May, shoemaker, of Ashford Hill, stated that he met Gater and Dibley on Greenham Common, on the 24^th April. They said that they were out of the way, about a hay job at Wells, they took it to old “Bob’s,” and Salter’s. W. Plumb met Gater in “Camp Close,” on April 25^th, when he said he was got into “commess” with Wells’s hay, as he took five trusses of it. The Recorder said there was no evidence, in this case, against Field, and he was ordered to stand down. Mr. Somerset made a long address in favour of Salter.

The jury were sometime in deliberation, and at length found Gater and Dibley guilty of stealing, and Salter guilty of receiving the hay. The two former were sentenced to three months’ hard labour each, and Salter, to eight months’ hard labour. There was another indictment against them, but after some conversation between the Recorder and Mr. Williams, it was withdrawn.