QSR1841/1/5/28

Depositions and examination - Frederick Prentice

17 December 1840

From: 1840 To: 1841

James Bone of Moggerhanger - he was at work for Mr Tatman the previous Wednesday week. He found part of a dead sheep in the spinney at the corner of a meadow at Moggerhanger. One shoulder and one leg had been cut off and part of the inside had been taken aware. He went and told Mr Tatman. The sheep appeared to have been killed the previous night. Samuel Harris, shepherd to Mr Tatman of Moggerhanger - his sheep were all right on Tuesday morning 8 December. He did not count thim in the evening as it was very dusk. He met Frederick Prentice in the next field to where the sheep were about 5pm on Tuesday, coming from the direction in which they were. He was within 6 or 7 yards of him, and spoke to him. He asked where Prentice had been . He said getting some sticks to make a fire. Prentice had a fustian frock on and his pockets appeared very much loaded. He seemed very frightened and said he must go home. He [Harris] went towards the sheep, which appeared very unsettled. The next morning there was one short. Bone later told him he had found a sheep. He went to look at it and found it was one of Mr Tatman's. The fustian jacket which the police constable produced is the one Prentice had on the day before. William Breakwell, police constable - he obtained the jacket he now produces from Thomas Fowler of Roxton, who said he bought it the night before. He asked Prentice if it was his and he said yes. There were some marks of blood in the pockets and mutton fat, which appeared fresh. he went with Joseph Peters to apprehend Prentice. They found him two days later. he woudl not tell them what he had done with his jacket, but at last said he had left it at Bass's, who keeps the Royal Oak at Roxton. They went there but could not find the jacket. Thomas Fowler of Roxton - on Thursday evening 10 December he was at Bass's public house at Roxton. Fredercick Prentice had on the fustian jacket, took it off and sold it to him for 3 shillings. The next day Breakwell came for it and he gave it to him. Prentice had come to him at work on the Thursday morning and asked if he knew of anybody who wanted to buy a jacket. He had not put anything into the jacket whilst he had it. John Manning - on 8 December he was returning from Bedford. He saw Prentice in Tatmans Meadow in the hamlet of Moggerhanger. Part of Mr Tatman's sheep were in that meadow and part in the adjoining meadow. The gate was open and it appeared he had driven part there and was waiting for the others. When Prentice saw him he went amongst the sheep as a shepherd would dok turning them carefully to the gate way. He had a jacket like the one now produced. Frederick Prentice - had nothing to say. [Also refused to sign the examination] John Tatman, farmer holding land at Moggerhanger - on Wednesday 9 December he went with the policeman to his meadow and saw the skin and head of one of the sheep which had been slaughtered. Some of the bones remained but all the meat had been taken. It was a ewe sheep belonging to himself and his brother William Tatman.

item

Prentice, Frederick,
Bone, James,
Harris, Samuel,
Breakwell, William,
Peters, Joseph,
Fowler, Thomas,
Manning, John,
Tatman, John,
Tatman, William

Moggerhanger, ROXTON, stealing animals, sheep, Roxton Royal Oak