QSR1870/2/5/1

Depositions and examination - Harry Seymour charged with kiling a sheep belonging to Samuel Wilson with intent to steal a certain part of the carcase

19 March 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

Samuel Bransom of Shefford, police sergeant – on Sunday 13 March from information received he went to Harry Seymour’s house and asked what time he came home. Seymour said between 3 and 4am. He saw some blood on Seymour’s trousers which he claimed was caused by a nose bleed. He examined Seymour’s pocket and found grease, wool and shreds of meat. The meat and blood on the sleeve was quite fresh. He apprehended Seymour on suspicion of killing Mr Wilson’s sheep. When the superintendent arrived he charged him. Seymour then said the blood was from 2 or 3 hares he killed that morning, behind a hedge of Mr Inskip’s. Seymour said he saw someone after he killed the hares and ran away and left them. This was at about 2.30pm on Sunday. He and Superintendent Smith examined the hedge row. There was a grass baulk on one side of the hedge but on the side Seymour said the field is sown with beans, with no footpath near. They could not see any footprints or any trace of the hares. The state of the ground was such that anyone walking there must leave impressions of their boots. He returned and searched Seymour’s house. He found the bludgeon now produced with fresh dirt and blood on it and the knife he produces. It is about 400 yards from the sheep pen to Seymour’s house. On Monday he went with some boots given by Superintendent Smith. He took them to where he saw the footmarks and the shoe exactly fitted them. He did not find any meat in Seymour’s house answering to what was stolen. After he found the bludgeon he made a further examination of the sheep and found a large bruise on the side of the head. When he firs asked Seymour where he came from he said from Henlow. A few yards from the fold in the direction of Seymour’s house there was another impression of a shoe which also corresponded. Coming from Henlow to Seymour’s house he would pass the field where the sheep were. George Smith of Biggleswade, police superintendent – he removed the shoes from Seymour’s feet and confirms the comparison made in his presence by Sergeant Bransom. He produces the shirt, trousers and coat. William Stock of Shefford, shepherd – he is shepherd to Samuel Wilson of Clifton. On Saturday 12 March he left his master’s sheep at about 6pm. On Sunday about 7am he found one dead. There was a piece cut out of the inside of the thigh and a piece off the loin, altogether about 5lbs. The sheep’s throat had been stuck in 2 places. The blood and flesh was quite warm. He thinks it had not been dead more than an hour or two. The jaw was broken. The sheep was in a field called Crab Tree Hill Furlong. He saw some foot marks to the hurdle and a little flesh on the hurdle. He saw Bransom fit the shoes to the impressions. Henry Seymour – does not know that he has anything to say. He takes his oath he did not kill the sheep. He did not have the knife with him – it had been in the cupboard some time. He does not want to call any witnesses.

8 pages

item

Seymour, Harry,
Wilson, Samuel,
Bransom, Samuel,
Smith, George,
Stock, William

SHEFFORD, BIGGLESWADE, CLIFTON, Clifton fields, stealing animals, sheep, police sergeant, police superintendent, shepherd