Write a letter to the sheriff to convince him that you have solved the crime of the stolen gardening tools. Explain who you believe took the gardening tools. Identify the most reliable piece of information you used to solve the mystery and justify your answer. You should include the following:
what the source told you about the crime
why you think this evidence is the most reliable
the type of source (Hint: Was it a newspaper, diary, photograph, etc.?)
the purpose of the source (Hint: Why was it created?)
whether this source is primary or secondary (Hint: Was it created at the time of the event or after the fact?)

Case Summary
On February 28, 1755, someone stole gardening tools from Will Anthony’s blacksmith shop.
Word around town is that the prime suspects for this crime were James Ansley and Matthew Farmer. Mr. Ansley was another blacksmith in town who threatened to burn down Will Anthony’s shop to force him out of business. Matthew Farmer was Will Anthony’s apprentice at the blacksmith shop. You arrive on the scene.

You have found a history textbook from the 21st century! Colonial Life: Many colonists depended on agriculture for their livelihood and survival. During the drought of 1755, many colonists had little money for extra expenses. Farming tools were valuable and often stolen because many people in the community could not afford the extra expense of purchasing these tools from a blacksmith. Having these tools allowed colonists to cultivate their crops and feed their families.

You have found the blacksmith’s sales journal. (Author:
The blacksmith’s apprentice, Matthew, records all of the store’s sales transactions in this journal) Observations
I have found the blacksmith's sales journal. Entries are dated March 1st, 1755 and were made by Matthew Farmer
February 14—Benjamin Miller—pistol—£3
February 20—Michael Farmer—grubbing h(0)e—2 shillings
February 26—Adam Reed—saddle—£2
Observations
I have found the blacksmith’s diary. There are three entries less than a month apart.
I need to figure out if this is a primary or secondary source!
Did he expect anyone else to read this? Is this reliable evidence? February 10, 1755
I am concerned about my apprentice, Matthew Farmer, and his family. Matthew confided in me that his father, Michael, was injured. His family is having a hard time tending to their crops and earning money.
March 1, 1755
I discovered that the gardening tools that I made in my shop have been stolen! They were missing at sunrise, when I went to my shop, so the thief must have stolen them last night.
March 6, 1755
I think I may need more sleep, as my memory seems to be failing me. I do not remember making a grubbing h(0)e two weeks ago, but in looking back at my sales journal, it appears that I sold one.

You have found the court’s transcript of an interview with Matthew Farmer. Interviewer:
Did you steal the gardening equipment from your employer? You were the blacksmith’s apprentice and had access to the shop.
Matthew Farmer:
I would never (umm) steal from him. Mr. Anthony has been so kind to help me learn his trade. I am very grateful to him. In addition, I left the shop early on the day of the crime. (looks away) Besides, (hesitant laugh) why would I need to steal farming equipment when my father, Michael Farmer, purchased a grubbing h(0)e week before the crime? Besides, Mr. Ansley, the other blacksmith in town, would love nothing more than to steal from Mr. Anthony. He wants to put our shop out of business. I (umm) saw him right outside of the shop the night the tools were stolen!
Interviewer:
I thought you said you left the shop early that night.

Observations
I have found an alleged photograph of the crime.
Did they even have cameras back then?
The back of the photo says: “Title: Mr. James Ansley Stealing Tools From Will Anthony’s Shop, Artist: Elizabeth Burr, Date: 2010.”.