QSR1852/3/5/27-29/a

Depositions of Jonathan Seymour, carrier of Luton, Charles Ellis, a minor, Charles Bigg, a minor and Alfred Atheron Murfin, police constable. In the cases of George Wood, accused of stealing 5 rabbits and a duck, Thomas Spacey of receiving a duck and Robert Farr accused of receiving 3 rabbits.

17 June 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Charles Ellis (otherwise Else): was in the employment of Jonathan Seymour at Luton on 12 June At 5 o’clock he left a duck and 5 tame rabbits all safe in the yard at the back of the stables in Castle Street. He missed them next morning and told his mistress. On 15 June he went to look at a duck in a barn of the prisoner Thomas Spacey. On seeing it he knew it to be his master’s duck. Charles Bigg: on 12 June he met George Wood in the street in Luton and he said he knew where some rabbits were. He asked him to go with him to get them and he said he'd been to chapel and seen them out of the window. About half past 11 he went to Seymour's premises with Wood and the prisoner got over the wall and fetched the rabbits. Wood handed them to Bigg over the wall. There were 5 tame rabbits. Bigg had 3, Wood took 2. When they got the rabbits away, Wood asked him to go again saying there was a duck and some turkeys in the yard. He told him he would not. Bigg saw Wood again the next morning and Wood said he had got the duck. On the following morning he saw Robert Farr and asked him if he would buy 3 rabbits, and he say he would. Bigg fetched the 3 rabbits and sold them for 14 pence and he was to stand some beer out of it so he only made 10 pence. Bigg identified the skins produced by Constable Murfin as the skins of those he sold to Farr. Farr did not ask how he got the rabbits and he did not tell Farr he found them in a field. The rabbits had been killed before they were offered to Farr. Alfred Atherton Murfin: on 13 June he received details of the theft of 5 rabbits and a duck from Jonathan Seynour. He applied for a warrant to search the house of Thomas Spacey and on 15 June he searched the premises and found a duck in his barn. Asked where he had it from, Spacey said he had breed it himself and sold the others. Charles Ellis, identified it as the property of his master. Spacey was taken into custody. He also took George Wood into custody for stealing he duck and rabbits. He afterwards went to Robert Farr’s house and asked him to produce the rabbits he had bought from Charles Bigg. Twice he denied buying any. He then said he had bought some and eaten them for supper the night before. On searching Murfin found a rabbit pie in the pantry. Farr also said he had sold the skins of the rabbits to a man at the door from Donkey Hall. Murfin made enquiries but could trace no man. On searching the property further Murfin found 3 rabbits skin in the dung heap at the bottom of the garden. Charels Bigg identified these as those sold to Farr. Whilst in custody, George Wood sent for Murfin and stated he had sold the duck to Thomas Spacey for 5 pence. William Lines: an employee of Mr Seymour, who was in the habit of feeding the rabbits. He was able to identify the rabbit skins as belonging to his master.

item

Wood, George,
Spacey, Thomas,
Farr, Robert,
Seymour, Jonathan,
Lines, William,
Ellis, Charles,
Bigg, Charles,
Murfin, Alfred Atherton

LUTON, Luton Donkey Hall, duck, rabbits, stealing, receiving stolen goods, carrier