QSR1841/2/5/8-9/a

Depositions - Joseph Norton and Benjamin Pendred charged with stealing a turkey from David Henman

1 April 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

David Henman of Bromham, farmer - he occupies a farm called Bromham Grange. He missed a hen turkey the previous evening. About 1pm that day (1 April) the 2 constables from Northampton brought him a hen turkey he believes to be his. He saw the prisoners idling upon the road near his premises about 3 months ago and ordered them off. He had not seen them since. Thomas Jefferies of Bromham, servant of David Henman - on March 30 he counted his master's turkeys. There were one cock and 3 hens. When he put them up the previous night one was missing. The dead turkey now produced is that one - he knows it by its head and bill. He had never seen either of the prisoners before. William Spencer, constable of Borough of Northampton - from information he received the previous evening from John Clarke, a fishmonger, he went to James Putman of Mare Fair in Northampton and recieved the dead hen turkey now produced. He then apprehended the 2 prisoners before they were up that morning. He apprehended Pendred first, before receiving the turkey from Putman, on suspicion of stealing a turkey. Pendred said he bought it from a man on the road. He then apprehended Norton on the same charge. Norton's father interfered and said to him "what have you been up to, what have you been about? If you would have been ruled by me you would not have come to this". Norton said Pendred sold the turkey to Putman. Norton said they stole the turkey 2 or 3 miles from Bedford. On the road to Bedford that morning Norton told him they stole the turkey from a white house by the roadside. When they passed Mr Henman's house Norton pointed it out as the house from which the turkey came. Pendred sat with Jefferies [sic] the other constable in the cart behind. He asked Norton how he became possessed of the turkey before he cautioned him. He cautioned him because the father began to ask questions he dare not. His father urged him to speak the truth whatever the consequences. George Mead, constable of Borough of Northampton - Spencer delivered Norton into his custody whle he went for Pendred. Norton told him he and Pendred stole the turkey from a "kind of an odd house" by the road side 2 or 3 miles from Bedford. He later received Pendred into his custody. Pendred said they bought the turkey in a lane that turns down towards Olney. Pendred said they gave half a crown for it and sold it to Putman for 3s 6d. Pendred did not know the man he bought it from. On the way to Bedford Pendred pointed to a road near Yardley and said that was where they bought the turkey and the man went straight on as though going to Olney.

item

Norton, Joseph,
Pendred, Benjamin,
Henman, David,
Jefferies, Thomas,
Spencer, William,
Mead, George,
Clarke, John,
Putman, James

stealing, turkeys, fishmonger, Bromham Grange Farm, BROMHAM, Northampton, Olney