QSR1851/4/5/7/a

Depositions of Edward French, Charles Odell, poultry dealer of Toddington, John Thorogood, police constable of Eaton Bray, Thomas Richardson, labourer of Houghton Regis, James Turner, a minor and John Keating, police constable of Houghton Regis. In the case of William Lingar, accused of stealing a live hen and 6 chickens.

18 September 1851

From: 1851 To: 1851

Charles Odell: a dealer of calves and poultry of Toddington. The prisoner came to him on 8 September and asked if he would buy some fowls. He said that he would and that he would come and see them. He went to see them but Lingar was not home, he looked at the birds and on meeting Lingar later on in the town he bought the birds for 5 shillings and sixpence. There were 6 chickens and a hen. Lingar took them to Odell's house and Odell paid him. Sometime after Constable Thorogood asked to see them, and he later sold them to Thorogood. John Thorogood: on 8 September he saw the prisoner and Odell talking about some fowls. He watched the prisoner and saw him go towards home, then shortly he returned with a hamper on his head and he went to Odell's house. When Lingar was gone, he went to Odells's and asked him what the prisoner had brought to his house. He said a hen and 6 chickens. Thorogood looked at them and suspected them stolen. On 12 September Thorogood bought the fowls thinking that Odell might otherwise sell them to another fellow. On 15 September Constable Keating and a man names Richardson came to him. Richardson identified them as the property of his master Edward French of Houghton Regis. Thomas Richardson: worked for Edward French of Houghton Regis and looked after his fowls. He could identify the fowls produced as those of his master, by their marking and age. James Turner: worked for Edward French looking after the fowls during Harvest month, when Richardson was too busy with the harvest. On 19 August he was sent by his mistress to find the hen and chickens. He saw them in a hedge behind the yard with some young chickens. He saw the hen again next day. On 21 August he was sent by his mistress again to look for them but could not find them. He searched the farm yard and the hedges. He did not see them again until shown them by the police officer. John Keating: on 15 September Richardson & Turner identified the hen as their master property. The prisoner was taken into custody and told of his charge. The prisoner seemed confused. He was asked how he had come by the birds and he said that he would tell nothing. As he was taken from the house, several women rushed around them. The prisoner said something to one of them, and the woman replied that yes she would. She then turned to Keating and said that the birds had been brought up by her daughter. Next day, the prisoner said that he had bought the chickens off a person named Twidell who lived in the same yard. Later on, the prisoner’s wife said, in his presence, that she did not know where the chickens had come from. On 17, he took the hen and chicken to Edward French's farm yard and released the birds out of the basket in the field. The hen went direct to the farm yard. Several times she passed through a hole that the fowls use to pass from one yard to another. He watched her all afternoon. When it got late she went into the hen house. When she came out again she called her chickens to her. She seemed to be well acquainted with all the places.

item

Lingar, William,
French, Edward,
Odell, Charles,
Thorogood, John,
Richardson, Thomas,
Turner, James,
Keating, John

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, chickens, poultry, dealer, EATON BRAY, TODDINGTON