QSR1842/2/5/9

Depositions and examination - Thomas Pearson

4 April 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

Daniel Palmer - he works for his father Richard Palmer, a farmer at Pulloxhill. On Saturday evening 26 March he was returning from his work to the village. William Gilthrow was with him. They were passing along a footpath by a field of MrsHallworth's in Pulloxhill. He saw the prisoner with a sheep within 10 or 12 yards of the fence close to the hedge on the other side of that corner of the field. [Description of prisoner's behaviour with the sheep]. They watched for about a minute then went quietly on to a gateway a few yards further on and went into the field. [More description of prisoner's behaviour] The prisoner ran away. They followed him and found him in a ditch in another field lying with his head down in the ditch. They pulled him out and brought him to Mrs Hallworth's. He told Francis Hallworth her son what they had seen. Hallworth said he should follow the law of him if he did not leave the country. The prisoner said he would go away and never be seen here any more. He believes the prisoner went away for some days, but he heard he had come back and then informed Scott the police constable. William Gilthrow - he works for Richard Palmer of Pulloxhill. On Saturday evening soon after 6pm he was coming home with Daniel Palmer. he saw the prisoner in Mrs Hallworth's field a few yards from the hedge side along which they were passing and very near the hedge of the other corner. [Description of prisoner's behaviour] They went towards him and the prisoner saw them when they got within 2 or 3 yards of him. [More description of prisoner] The prisoner ran away and hid himself in a ditch from which they took him. The prisoner swore at him and called him names. They took him up to Mrs Hallworth's. Francis Hallworth - he works for his mother who occupies a farm at Pulloxhill. He knows the close mentioned by the other witnesses. There were 8 ewes and 8 lambs in the field on Saturday 26 March. The sheep belong to his brother Thomas Hallworth. The prisoner is not in their employ. He had no business in the field or with the sheep. There is no footpath in that field. George Burley - he is a farmer at Pulloxhill. On Saturday evening a few minutes after 6pm he saw a person in the field mentioned driving some sheep towards the corner. He was 300 or 400 yards off but saw the person clearly though not to know who it was. He had the appearance of the prisoner. He has no doubt it was but cannot say positively. Thomas Pearson - when they took him before Mr Hallworth Daniel Palmer asked "Do you swear that you did such a thing?" and he said he would not. He would only say he was not guilty. He is innocent of it. He was in the field but not doing anything with the sheep. His breeches were not down, only his flap was undone - it was not undone for anything. The sheep was not down but was feeding. He was there birds nesting.

item

Palmer, Daniel,
Pearson, Thomas,
Palmer, Richard,
Gilthrow, William,
Hallworth, Francis,
Burley, George

PULLOXHILL, sex crimes, sheep