QSR1851/1/5/2-3/a

Depositions of John Cooper, labourer of Stanbridge, Jane Tomkins, of Stanbridge, Barnard Turney, labourer of Tilsworth, and William Clough, police constable. In the case of Thomas Moss and Joseph Tompkins accused of stealing a rabbit.

18 October 1850

From: 1850 To: 1850

John Cooper: On the night of 12 September he fed his brown and white, buck rabbit. It was safe in a hutch in his barn. The next morning his wife found the rabbit gone. He searched for it but could not find it. Jane Tompkins: she lived next to Mr Cooper. On the night of 12 September, she saw from her window, 2 men go to Cooper’s gate. One remained and the shorter of the men, went in. He was gone about 5 minutes. She could not positivity identify then men. She thought it to be Tompkins by his dress, but he is lame and she could not tell id the man who went into the premises was lame. The men then went onwards towards Tilsworth. Bernard Turney: on 14 September he saw the prisoner Moss in Tilsworth. Moss approached him and told him John Cooper had had his rabbit stolen and they thought it to be David Ellingham and Joe How. However, Moss went to to say the Joe How (which is the prisoner Joseph Tompkins) had taken the rabbit whilst he (Moss) had stood outside and that he would sell it to Turney. It was a brown and white buck rabbit. Turney said he wanted nothing to do with it and that Moss should be ashamed of himself. Moss told him John Cooper had plenty of money. William Clough: on 26 September he apprehended the 2 prisoners on the charge. They said they knew nothing about it. He asked the prisoner Howe (aka Tompkins) where he had been that night and he told him he had met Moss in Stanbridge and had gone back together and slept in Moss's barn in Tilsworth. Moss said the same.

item

Tompkins, Joseph,
Moss, Thomas,
Cooper, John,
Turney, Bernard,
Clough, William,
Tompkins, Jane

STANBRIDGE, TILSWORTH, stealing, rabbits