• Reference
    QSR1851/1/5/7a,8a/a
  • Title
    Stephen Dodd, bookseller of Woburn, Richard Waterman Woodin, beer seller, John Adams, labourer, James Whipham, gardener, William Norman, labourer and William Clay, policeman, all of Aspley Guise. In the case of Thomas Butcher and James Whitbread, accused of stealing a rabbit
  • Date free text
    25 October 1850
  • Production date
    From: 1850 To: 1851
  • Scope and Content
    William Norman: his daughter kept a black and white rabbit in a hutch in the barn. William Norman last saw it when he fed it about half past 1 on 9 October. Next morning the barn door was open and the rabbit missing. He told the policeman that he suspected Prisoner Whitbread as he had been in the yard the previous week and had seen the rabbit. The constable later asked him to examine a rabbit skin, which he was able to idenitfy as his daughter’s rabbit. Richard Waterman Woodin: both prisoner were in the tap room of his house on the evening of 9 October. The accused Whitbread went out for about 20 minutes but return and they remained until about half past 9 o'clock. John Adams: he saw the prisoner about 10 o'clock on 9 October near the Bell at Aspley Guise. He spoke to them and went towards Woburn with them. They told him they were to enlist as soldiers. He left them about 20 yards from William Normans' house. James Whipham: the accused, Butcher, took him 2 rabbits (one sandy and one black & white) on 10 October. He bought them from him. Butcher said they were not his rabbits, but belonged to another man who wanted the money. Whipham sold the black & white rabbit to Stephen Dodd of Woburn. Stephen Dodd: he bought a black & white rabbit from James Whipham. His daughter gave the skin of the rabbit to Miss Emma Evans. William Clay: He asked the prisoner Butcher if he had sold any rabbits. Butcher said Jem Whitbread had bought the rabbits to his house for him to sell. He detained the prisoners for the theft of the rabbits.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    item