QSR1851/3/5/4b-6b

Depositions Jospeh Burnidge, labourer of Woburn, Thomas Shaw, labourer of Woburn, John Quilty & Thomas Worsley, police constables. In the case of: William Capp, Charles Webb & James Atthews accused of 7 live fowls, and a live drake.

July 1851

From: 1851 To: 1851

Joseph Burnidge: was in the employ of Mr Freeman, a grocer of Woburn. Mr Freeman kept fowl in a building at the top of the gated Wheat Sheaf yard. There is no thoroughfare and the public have no business beyond the gates. Burnidge looked after the fowls. On 26 April around half past 6, he knew the fowls to be there. On leaving the yard, he saw the prisoners, who he knew going into the Wheat Sheaf Tap. On the following morning, he found the door to the fowl house broken and 7 of the fowls and a drake missing. He went with the police constable Quilty, and Shaw (an employee of Mr Freeman) to the prisoners house in Little Brickhill. Webb was there. Burnidge stayed outside whilst Shaw & Quilty searched the house. When Capp & Atthews also arrived at the house, Burnidge went inside too. He was shown by Shaw a picked fowl and a drake wrapped in a cloth which appeared to be wet. The policeman said they had been found under the staircase. They all assisted in taking Capp into custody and in the scuffle Atthews got away. Capp & Webb were taken to the lockup at Woburn. Burnidge returned to the prisoner’s house with Quilty and Worsley to search it again. More fowls and a drake were found under floor boards. Thomas Shaw: lived at Woburn and was in the employ of Mr Freeman. Around 8 o'clock on the evening of 26 April, he saw Capp & Atthews go to the privy in the Wheat Sheaf Yard, about 40 yards from the fowl house. On the previous Thursday he had seen Capp in the yard, where he had no business. On 27 April he went with Burnidge and Quilty to the prisoner’s house in Little Brickhill heath. He was present when the fowl were found under the staircase. Webb was at the house and taken into custody. Capp & Atthews returned during the search but Atthews escaped in the scuffle. On later returning to the house, he saw the police constable retrieve further fowls from beneath the floor. John Quilty: on the evening of 26 April he saw all the prisoners in the Wheat Sheaf tap. The following morning he received information of the theft of the fowls. He suspected the prisoner sand went to the prisoner’s house. On searching found a dead fowl and a drake, both picked with their heads taken off. Webb was taken into custody. Capp arrived at the house and was taken into custody but Atthews escaped. On later returning, he found 2 fowls and a white drake concealed in a pan under the bricks in the flooring. On taking Capp into custody he saw signs of blood on his trousers. Thomas Worsley: on 27 April he assisted in the search of the prisoner’s house. He later apprehended Atthews on 28 April.Statements of the accused: William Capp - nothing to say Charles Webb - nothing to say about the fowls but they were in the Wheat Sheaf on Saturday. He left Capp about 12 and slept in Mr Young's cow house. He had never been in Capp's house, to make it his own home. It was not is regular home. James Atthews - said that he was not guilty

item

Burnidge, Joseph,
Shaw, Thomas,
Quilty, John,
Worsley, Thomas,
Webb, Charles,
Atthews, James,
Turney, George,
Inwards, George,
Gearing, James

Little Brickhill, HEATH & REACH, WOBURN, stealing, fowls, Woburn Wheatsheaf