QSR1851/1/5/13-14/a

Depositions of: William Harris, shepherd, George Hobbs, butcher, James Elliott, police constable, William Clough, police superintendent, all of Toddington, Charles White, licenced victualler of Harlington, Elizabeth Cartwright, wife of Thomas, of Harlington, John Warren Foll, farmer of Harlington, In the case of Thomas Bushby & Thomas Cox accused of killing a sheep

11 November 1850

From: 1850 To: 1851

William Harris: a shepherd to Mr Foll. On 7 November he put 62 of his masters sheep in a field called Park Leys in Harlington. Next morning he returned about half past 7, and counted 61 live sheep and found 1 dead sheep with its throat cut. He advised his master who came to the field to look at it. Then, helped by George Hobbs, he took the sheep to the slaughter house in Harlington. It was a Leicester sheep, called a sheep hog. George Hobbs: on 8 November he saw a dead sheep lying in Mr Foll's field which adjoined his premises. The sheep was dead, cold and had its throat cut. Mr Foll ordered the sheep to be taken to Hobbs's shop. He assisted Harris carrying it there. He believed that from the insides of the sheep (the kidneys had turned green) that it had been dead about 10 or 12 hours. The inside fat was quite chilled. It was a Leicester sheep, called a sheep hog. He believed the neck wound to be made with a small knife. The value of the sheep was 30 shillings. Charles White: keeper of a public house in Harlington. On 7 November, the accused were drinking in his house until about 7 o'clock. Before they left they had said to White that should anything happen or be lost in this place, they would no doubt be blamed. White had not instigated this conversation. He knew them both and that they lived about 3 miles away in Toddington. Elizabeth Cartwright: on the evening 7 November she had seen the accused at the house of John Martin. A few minutes later they had gone. John Martin's house is close to the field where Mr Foll's sheep was killed. James Elliott: following information he went to Cox’s house in Toddington. Cox said he had left Harlington about 7 o'clock and had come home directly from leaving Mr White's by road. He said Bushby was with him. He then examined Cox's clothes. Cox's wife came in and said to Cox 2ah you told me last night what happened in Harlington which we shall be blamed for". Elliott then went to Bushby's house. Bushby said he had been in Harlington with Cox. Elliott found blood on both men's clothes. He also found a knife on Cox, which again had blood on it. He also charged Bushby who was searched by Constable Clough, as Elliott had scratched his hand and was bleeding. Bushby said to him "Bugger the sheep, I wish it had been in hell before I had anything to do with it". William Clough: on charging Cox on 9 November, he told him he was charging him with killing a sheep at Westoning, to which Cox replied "no Harlington". He examined Cox's clothes and found blood. He also recovered a knife with blood stains and wool on its handle. He also found a black mask in Cox's waistcoat pocket. Elliott brought in Bushby who Clough examined, again finding blood on his clothes and boots.

item

Cox, Thomas,
Bushby, Thomas,
Harris, William,
Hobbs, George,
Elliott, James,
White, Charles,
Cartwright, Elizabeth,
Foll, John Warren

stealing, sheep, HARLINGTON, TODDINGTON