QSR1853/1/5/8-9

Depositions of James Janes, farmer of Hockcliffe, David Dumpleton, shepherd of Tebworth, James Butler, cattle drover of Kilburn, Thomas Janes, labourer of Dunstable, Geoge Gibbins, labourer of Totternhoe, William Clough, police sergeant of Hockcliffe, Cornelius Sharpe, police constable of Dunstable, John Thorogood, police constable of Toddington, Thomas Worsley, police constable of Leighton Buzzard and Hannah Green, wife of Thomas, beer retailer of Dunstable. In the case of James Turvey & William Tearle accused of stealing 2 sheep.

5 November 1852

From: 1852 To: 1853

James Janes: a farmer of Chalgrave. On 28 October, he was advised by his shepherd that 2 lambs had been stolen from the flock near Wingfield. He sent his shepherd to search his neighbour’s flocks for them. He reported the loss to Sergeant Clough. He then heard 2 lambs and a ewe had gone up towards London in a drove with a man called Butler. He and Sergeant Clough went after them, and overtook them drove at Cricklewood. He examined the drove and picked out his 2 lambs. He asked the drover who had put them into his drove and he was told a man called Gibbins. Sergeant Clough took possession of the lambs. David Dumpleton: shepherd to James Janes, and lived in Tebworth. On 28 October he missed 2 lambs from his master’s flock. He could see the flock had been driven in the night towards and a gate. He also saw footprints and a mark that suggest someone had slipped down on their knees. A week later he saw 2 lambs at the White Hart in Hockcliffe and knew them to be his master's property. James Butler: a cattle drover of Kilburn in Middlesex. On 26 October he received 2 lambs and a ewe from a man called Gibbins to keep for him until February. On 28 October he was driving the flock towards London when the witness Janes overtook him at Cricklewood and examined the drove. He took out 2 lambs as his property. He told Janes he had them from a man called Gibbins. William Clough: from information received he went to Cricklewood with Janes where they overtook a flock of sheep under the care of Butler. He took possession of 2 lambs identified by Janes as his property. On 31 October, he was at the station house in Woburn when he overheard a whispered conversation between prisoners. The prisoners said that they believed George Gibbins had told all, and they were concerned footprints could be attributed to them, and they talked of giving no information away. Another conversation was overheard by Clough on 5 November. This time they spoke of how they would stand a good chance if it were not for Gibbins. George Gibbins: a labouring man of Totternhoe. On 23 October, he was at Grace's beer shop in Dunstable. Turvey & Tearle were there. On leaving, Turvey went after him and asked if he had sold the 2 sheep. He told him yes and gave him 35s, Turvey said he would bring 2 more but Gibbins said he'd rather have nothing to do with them. Gibbins asked where Turvey was going to get the sheep from and was told Mr Folls of Chalgrave. The following Tuesday, Gibbins found 2 lambs and a sheep in his fold, but knew not how they came to be there. He suspected Turvey and Tearle had brought them. There was a mark as if string had been round their necks. This was unusual in sheep. The prisoners brought him 8 sheep altogether, and he paid them for 6. All the sheep had the string type marks. The last 2 were brought without agreement. He sent these away with Butler. Gibbins was unable to say where the other 6 sheep had come from. Hannah Grace: wife of Thomas Grace, keeper of a beer shop in Houghton Regis. On the evening of 23 October, the 2 prisoners and a man by the name of Gibbins were in the house together. She did not see them drink or speak together. Thomas Janes: a labourer of Houghton Regis. On the 23 October he was in the beer shop run by Mr Grace when he saw Tearle arrive at the shop. Shortly afterwards he was joined by Turvey and they drank beer together. About an hour later a man by the name of Gibbins arrived. Gibbins was handed a pot by Turvey and told to drink. Gibbins drank but then went to the opposite side of the room. Janes did not see them communicate further. Cornelius Sharpe: on 29 October he took Turvey into custody and told him he was charged with stealing 2 lambs on 25 October from Mr Janes. Turvey asked who had brought the charge against him and was told it was Gibbins. Turvey replied he knew nobody by the name of Gibbins. Told he was the shepherd of John Cook, Turvey said he knew who he was but had never spoken to him. John Thorogood: took prisoner Tearle into custody and told him of the charge against him. As he was taking Tearle to Dunstable, he agreed he had been in Grace's beer shop but denied being in the company of Gibbins or Turvey. Whilst in custody at the station, he heard a conversation between Turvey and Tearle . They discussed that fact nobody had seen them commit a robbery and Tearle asked Turvey what he thought of "the old shepherd and his 12 shillings". Turvey replied "I know they can hurt me". Thomas Worsley: on 31 October he was at Woburn station house. Turvey and Tearle were in custody there. He overheard some of their conversations. The superintendent went into them and took away their shoes.Statements of the accused: James Turvey - nothing to say William Tearle - said it was false and that he was innocent of the charge. He had never done anything of the sort in his life and knew nothing about it.

item

Turvey, James,
Tearle, William,
Janes, James,
Dumpleton, David,
Butler, James,
Janes, Thomas,
Gibbins, George,
Clough, William,
Sharpe, Cornelius,
Thorogood, John,
Worsley, Thomas,
Grace, Hannah,
Grace, Thomas

TOTTERNHOE, Cricklewood, CHALGRAVE, Hockcliffe, Tebworth, DUNSTABLE, TODDINGTON, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, Hockliffe White Hart, sheep, shepherd, beer retailer, farmer, cattle drover, Kilburn