QSR1880/3/5/8a

Depositions of John Olden, police sergeant of Leighton Buzard, William James Bodger, surgeon of Leighton Buzard and Frederick Turney and William Janes, both labourers of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Dick Rogers accused of receiving 8 stolen fowls.

26 May 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

William James Bodger: a surgeon in practice in Leighton Buzzard. He kept fowls in a paddock at the end of his garden. He had from time to time lost fowls from there. On 7 may his wife informed him that fowls were missing. The prisoner brought some pigeons to his house on that day. He asked the prisoner if he had been offered any fowls and the prisoner denied it. Frederick Turney: on 16 April he went with William Janes and Albert Hopkins and stole 8 fowls from Mr Bodger’s paddock. They then took them to the prisoner. 4 fowls were in a bag and 4 had got out. They agreed to sell the fowls to Rogers for 16 shillings and sixpence. Rogers gave them 11 shillings sixpence on account and they left the fowls with him. They had sold fowls to him before. The prisoner did not ask where they had come from. [Cross examination] Rogers kept the live fowls in a hovel at the back of his house. It is a private house not a shop. He told the prisoner he had been to Eaton Bray that day and had just got home, and that was the place he had got the fowls from. Rogers did not ask, the statement was volunteered. He told Rogers that his father would not let him keep them. The other boy heard all the passed. William Janes: an ostler at the Greyhound in Leighton Buzzard. On 16 April he went with Turney and Hopkins and stole 8 fowls. They took them to Rogers and sold them to him for 16 shillings sixpence. He paid 11shillings and sixpence and paid the rest on Saturday when they met near the bridge. They went into the Falcon to get change, but could not so Rogers paid him that evening instead at the Greyhound. When the fowls were offered nothing was said of where they came from and no questions were asked by the prisoner. John Olden: a police sergeant stationed at Leighton Buzzard. On 13 May he apprehended William Janes on the charge of stealing the fowls from Mr Bodger. The same evening he saw Rogers and asked if he had bought the fowls from Janes. Rogers said he had often bought from him over the last year. Rogers said some of the fowls he had killed and some he had sent to London. He said that he had so many through his hands he did not know where they all went. Statement of the accused – Dick Rogers: nothing to say

item

Rogers, Dick,
Olden, John,
Bodger, William James,
Turney, Frederick,
Janes, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, receiving stolen goods, fowls, surgeon