QSR1843/2/5/13

Depositions and examination - Matthew Tebbutt charged with stealing fowls

4 March 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

John Odell of Bromham - he works for Mr William Biggs of Bromham, miller and baker. He knows Matthew Tebbutt, who lives at Bromham. He usually feeds Mr Biggs' fowls. About a month or 3 weeks ago he missed 5 of them - 4 hens and a cock. A week ago last Friday morning he saw 3 of the hens - one in Matthew Tebbutt's yard and two in John Gurney's close, about 1/4 mile from Mr Biggs's. He told his master. Last night he went with the policemen Jebbett and Tilyard to Tebbutt's house. Mr Tilyard went to fetch Tebbutt, who came in. Mr Jebbett then said to Tebbutt he wanted to see his fowls. Tebbutt took them down to his hovel which stands behind his house and unlocked the door. He went in and saw 5 fowls at roost. Three of them were 3 of the hens he missed - he picked them out directly. The two now produced by Jebbett are two of them. Tebbutt said he bought them off a man between Thurleigh and Milton. Jesse Biggs of Bromham - he lives at the mill occupied by his father Mr William Biggs at Bromham. The fowls at the mill are his. His father gave them to him. John Odell looked after the fowls for him. He does not suppose the boy knew the fowls were his. Henry Ison Jebbett, superintendent of police - he went to Bromham last evening and took the boy John Odell with him to Tebbutt's premises to see whether he could find any fowls there belonging to his master. Tebbutt was not at home. He went for Tebbutt. He found Tebbutt's hen place was locked and the key was not in the house. As soon as Tebbutt came in he told him he wanted to see what fowls he had on the premises. Tebbutt took them to a hovel behind the house and unlocked the door. John Odell said he saw three fowls that belonged to his master and picked out 3 hens. They returned to the house and the boy again examined them and spoke to them as 3 of those lost from his master's premises. There was great confusion in the house and he discovered after he got to Bedford that he had only brought away 2 of 3. He told Tebbutt he should take him into custody. Tebbutt seemed very anxious to say something. He cautioned Tebbutt. After that Tebbutt told him he bought the fowls from a man, a perfect stranger to him, between Thurleigh and Milton between 9 and 10 weeks ago. He asked Tebbutt if he could tell him the man's name, but he said he bought fowls from a good many people, and that he gave a shilling a piece for them. Matthew Tebbutt of Bromham, labourer - he bought the fowls. He was out hawking with a donkey cart. When he can see anything to buy to turn a penny by he buys it. As he was going from Milton to Thurleigh he met a man with a flag basket and could see the black hen with its tail out at the corner of the basket. He asked if the man would sell it. The man asked "will you buy them". He was a stranger and looked like a labourer. He offered a shilling a piece. The man took the money and give him the 3 fowls. He brought them away in his cart.

item

Tebbutt, Matthew,
Odell, John,
Biggs, William,
Biggs, Jesse,
Gurney, John,
Jebbett, Henry Ison,
Tilyard, Thomas

BROMHAM, stealing, fowls, miller, baker, Bromham Mill