QSR1851/3/5/25-26/a

Depositions of Frederick Tomson, farmer of Sundon, James Odell, labourer of Tingrith, John Millard, police constable of Luton, and Phoebe Dimmock, wife of Robert, of Luton. In the case of Reuben Cox & George Wilding accused of stealing and receiving guinea fowl.

4 June 1851

From: 1851 To: 1851

James Odell: on 3 June he met with the prisoner to go up to the Hay Country. Cox overtook him at Harlington and they went through Sundon and stopped a little time at his uncles. In a field in Sundon they saw 2 guinea fowls and Cox asked what they were. He told Odell to "knock one of the buggers down". Odell refused. He asked Odell to get a stick from the hedge to throw at them, but he refused. Cox got a stick from the hedge and Odell saw him throw it twice at the fowls. He hunted them into a wheat field. Odell went on, but met Cox caught up with him as he left the field; saying had had one of the fowls in his jacket. Cox stopped and moved the fowl into a handkerchief. In High Town Luton, they went to Dimmock's public house. When Mr Dimmock left the room, Cox asked Wilding if he wanted to buy a guinea fowl for sixpence. Wilding said he did not have sixpence, so it was sold to him for 3 pence halfpenny. After drinking a little beer, Odell and Cox went on to St Albans where they were taken into custody by Sergeant Millard. Odell went with Millard to the field the guinea fowl had been in and showed him where Cox had got the stick and hunted the fowls. They found feather and a broke stick. Frederick Tomson: a farmer of Sundon who had kept 4 guinea fowls. He missed one on 3 June, as he had been looking for it as it had a nest nearby. Sergeant Millard came and asked about the fowl and, along with Odell, he went as saw the feathers in a ditch where the fowls had a habit of going. He could identity the guinea fowl produced as his. John Millard: saw the prisoner Wilding asleep on a form in the Cricketer’s beer house. Millard asked him if he had sold a guinea fowl and he replied he had neither bought nor sold on. Millard noticed he had something bulky in his pocket. He found the guinea fowl in his coat pocket. From information from Mr Dimmock he went to St Albans and found Cox and Odell at a beer house. He took them both in custody. Cox told him he had sold the guinea fowl but previously purchased it. He then took Odell to Sundon where they examined the place the fowls had been taken. He found footmarks, a quantity of feather and a stick. Phoebe Dimmock: with her husband they kept the Rising Sun in High Town. On 3 June, Odell and Cox came to the house. Wilding came in soon after and they were the only 3 in the Taproom. When they left she found some feathers on the floor.

item

Cox, Reuben,
Wilding, George,
Tomson, Frederick,
Dimmock, Robert,
Dimmock, Phoebe,
Odell, James,
Millard, James

SUNDON, LUTON, TINGRITH, Luton High Town, Luton Rising Sun, St Albans, stealing, fowl, receiving stolen goods