QSR1843/3/5/3

Depositions and examination - William Fensom

6 April 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

Joseph Kingston of Toddington, farmer - having some suspicion that something might be wrong about his sheep on Monday night he ordered William Breed his shepherd to watch near a barn in Chalton field where many of his fowls are kept. On Tuesday morning William Breed and William Brandram brought him 12 fowls which had been killed and said they had caught a man in the hen house adjoining the barn. The fowls were in a sack. They both thought the man was William Fensom. He has since brought the remaining five live fowls away from the hen house. He believes the fowls produced to be his. William Breed, shepherd to Mr Kingston - his master set him to watch in Chalton field on Monday night April 3rd. About 1am he felt tired and sat down on some straw. William Brandram was watching with him. He thinks he fell asleep but soon roused himself and saw a light in the hen house. They went towards the hen house as quickly as they could. In going there the sheep made a bustling about and the light went out directly. He then saw a man come out of the hen house. His partner said halloo and struck at him. He tried to stop the man by stooping down but the man hit him over the leg and got over the gate before he could get up. He said it was Will Fensom -- he had seen Fensom a few weeks before at his house. The man had a frock on and a cap which fell off - he picked it up. The prisoner is very like the man he saw, and he feels almost certain the frock he has on is the same that the man had on that night. The cap now produced is the one he picked up. William Brandram of Chalton, labourer - on Monday night William Breed asked him to watch with him near the sheep in Chalton field. Abotu 1am he sat down and fell asleep. Soon afterwards William Breed called him and said there was a light in the hen house. They went together towards it and he saw a man come out of a hole in the hen house. He struck at the man with a stick but he got away. He could see pretty well. He said it was William Fensom. The man had a smock frock on exactly like the one the prisoner has on now. They both went to the stable nearby and got a light, went into the hen house and found the fowls in a bag. They were all dead but still quite warm. After some time they took them down to Mr Kingston's. The prisoner is just like the same man - he saw him clearly when his cap was off getting over the gate and he had known him before. He has not doubt Fensom is the man. He is sure he has seen Fensom wear the cap produced. Joseph Hyde - he works for Kingston. During the last few months a number of fowls have been stolen. He saw the fowls in the yard on Monday afternoon - there were about a score. On Tuesday morning there were only 7 still alive in the hen house. Yesterday he was shown several dead fowls. He knows the dark one and two light coloured ones were his master's. William Breed [resworn] - the dark coloured fowl is one of those he found dead in the hen house. The two in Hornal's possession are also 2 of those he took out of the henhouse. William Brandram [resworn] - the cap in the hands of police constable Hornal is the one he picked up and he is sure it is the same one he has seen the prisoner wear. He does not think he ever saw the prisoner wear the cap he [Fensom] now produces. He has seen Fensom a good many times lately. When he saw Fensom getting over the gate without his cap he was so near he touched him in trying to lay hold of him. He is sure it was the same man who came out of the hen house and dropped the cap, and is sure it was the prisoner. William Fensom - he was not there and never wore the cap they have produced or ever saw it before. The cap in his hand was made for him where he lodges. Mrs Harbett paid for it and she can swear he left it at her house on Saturday morning when he left home and had it away only that morning. It was made 5 or 6 weeks age and he has worn it ever since except Sundays. On Monday night he came to Leagrave about 6.30pm and stopped till 11. He went to bed and lay there until 8.30 next morning. He had never slept in that room before. It is the Sugar Loaf public house at Leagrave. He had given his smock frock to the landlord on Saturday and he did not see it again until he came with the policeman.

item

Fensom, William,
Kingston, Joseph,
Breed, William,
Brandram, William,
Hyde, Joseph

TODDINGTON, Chalton, LEAGRAVE, stealing animals, fowls, shepherd, Leagrave Sugar Loaf