QSR1840/3/5/11/a

Depositions of Henry Sharp, James Bates, Edward Scott and Francis Roberts, and examination of James Worker

4 May

From: 1840 To: 1840

Henry Sharp of Greenfield in parish of Flitton, miller and farmer - last Saturday night betwen 7 and 8pm he saw 43 sheep and lambs safe in a fold in his field. The next morning his shepherd William Goodman informed him there was a lamb missing. After breakfast his shepherd brought him part of a lamb skin. He recognizes the skin of a lamb's head now produced as it was the youngest lamb he had and was remarkable for the length of the ears. James Bates, superintendent of police at Ampthill - acting on information received he went to the house of William Downing in Flitton with two police constables. On entering the house he saw Worker, who takes his meals there, sitting by the fire and Downing's wife. Seeing part of a neck of lamb which had been cooked he asked whose it was. Downing's wife said it was Worker's. Worker said a young man gave it to him but he declined to say whom. He instructed PC Roberts to take Worker into custody and to make a search. Two plates were found in a drawer. They contained a quantity of undressed lamb which appeared to have been recently killed and was high coloured as if the blood had not been properly drawn from the carcass on killing. Downing's wife said it was Worker's meat. He acknowledged it was his. Seeing a boiler on the fire he asked Roberts to see what it contained - there were three puddings and another on the table. Downing's wife said three were Worker's and the larger of them was hers. She said it contained mutton she had bought from a butcher named Chapman. On opening the puddings he found they contained lamb. He took the prisoner to the Public House and directed the constables to search more - they found a sack with fresh wet blood on it and the skin of a lamb's head which Worker said was his. Edward Scott, constable No.9 - he accompanied constable Roberts to Flitton. Confirms Mr Bates's evidence is true. He found the skin of the head in a cupboard near the stairs. Worker admitted it was his. Francis Roberts, police constable No.10 - confirms Mr Bates's evidence is true. He found the sack in a nook in the wall behind the door. James Worker - he had no flour to make any puddings of. He is at the house of William Downing some days and not others. He is sometimes out in search of work. He is innocent of the crime and knows nothing about the lamb being killed. He was not on Sharp's land. Downing's wife told him she had made him a dumpling.

item

Worker, James,
Downing, William,
Sharp, Henry,
Goodman, William,
Bates, James,
Scott, Edward,
Roberts, Francis

FLITTON, Greenfield, stealing animals, sheep, shepherd, police superintendent, police constable