QSR1843/4/5/14

Depositions and examination - James Waller of Toddington, charged with stealing 7 fowls from Joseph Cooper

5 September 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

Joseph Cooper of Sundon, farmer - on Friday morning 1 September he missed 7 fowls and 4 guinea fowls. On Friday and Saturday he searched for them. As he did not find them he told the police constable John Kitchener on Sunday. On the same day John Kitchener came to his house and said he had seen a person who had bought some fowls. On Monday morning he and his daughter Helen met Kitchener at Thomas Muckleton's. The housekeeper showed them the fowls and he and his daughter identified 7 as the ones he had lost. Helen Cooper - on 31 August she fed her father's fowls and guinea fowls. They were all at that time near to the rick yard. On Friday she missed 7 fowls and 4 guinea fowls. The 7 fowls now produced are the missing ones. John Kitchener, police constable - on Sunday 3 September he saw a boy belonging to Joseph Cooper who told him Joseph Cooper had lost 7 fowls and 4 guinea fowls. He made enquiries about them. When he met Thomas Muckleton that evening he said he had bought some the day before from Joseph Odell of Toddington. On Monday he went to Odell's house, who said he bought them on Saturday from James Waller. Waller said he had bred the fowls he sold to Joseph Odell. On Saturday evening he saw Cooper and arranged to meet at Muckleton's on Monday morning. Cooper and his daughter Helen met him and challenged the 7 fowls as Cooper's property. He took Waller into custody. Thomas Muckleton of Streatley, farmer - on Sunday 3 September John Kitchener asked if he had bought any fowls. He said he had bought 8 fowls from Joseph Odell the day before. On Monday Joseph Cooper and his daughter Helen came with kitchener to his yard and claimed 7 fowls as Cooper's property. Joseph Odell of Toddington, poulterer - on Saturday 2 September about 9.30am James Waller came to him and said he had 8 fowls at his house for sale. He went and bought them for 4s 6d. He sold the 8 fowls on the same day to Thomas Muckleton for 5s. James Waller - on Saturday 2 September he sold 8 fowls to Joseph Odell for 4s 6d. The 7 fowls now produced are from the 8 he sold to Joseph Odell. He bred them himself.

item

Waller, James,
Cooper, Joseph,
Kitchener, John,
Muckleton, Thomas,
Cooper, Helen,
Odell, Joseph

TODDINGTON, SUNDON, STREATLEY, stealing animals, fowls, farmer, police constable, poulterer