QSR1840/3/5/24-25

Deposition of William Coxall of Sutton against Robert Appleby and William Bottoms charged with stealing eggs

25 May 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

William Coxall of Sutton - on Sunday 24 May his son John Coxall informed him that as he was coming from Church Vincent Doggett the constable of Clophill had taken two young men, Appleby and Bottoms, for having eggs in their possession. The eggs were found in their possession at Brickwall Farm, Clophill, which is occupied by himself and Robert Law. Vincent Doggett, constable of Clophill - on Sunday afternoon he went to clear the churchyard when the service commenced. Bottoms and Appleby left the churchyard and went in the direction of Brickwall Farm. He watched them and saw them on a gate near the rick yard. He then saw Bottoms go into the rick yard and look over a heap of straw. Bottoms then came back and waited at the gate a few minutes. They then both went into the rick yard and each looked round the yard and in the straw. He went closer to the rick yard and distinctly saw the 2 prisoners looking up the side of the orchard hedge in the nettles. He saw two men coming along the road and the 2 prisoners hid themselves until the men passed. They continued searching along the orchard hedge, then crossed the hedge and looked along the other side. He followed them and went into the garden belonging to the farm. He took the two prisoners into the kitchen of the farm and searched them, finding 8 eggs on Appleby and 2 eggs on Bottoms. He then sent to inform Robert Law that he had taken the two prisoners with eggs on his premises. While going to his house in company with Charles Church, foreman to Messrs Law and Coxall, Appleby said that if he got out of this job he would not get into another, and that he did not go with the intention of stealing but saw the eggs lie open, passed them, then went back and took them. Charles Church of Clophill - he was with Vincent Doggett to assist him in taking the prisoners to his house and heard Appleby say that if he got out of this job he would take care he did not get into another. Robert Appleby and William Bottoms - said they found the eggs in a ditch by the side of the road.

item

Coxall, William,
Law, Robert,
Appleby, Robert,
Bottoms, William,
Doggett, Vincent,
Church, Charles

CLOPHILL, SUTTON, Clophill Brickwall Farm, stealing, eggs