QSR1880/3/5/8c

Depositions of John Olden, police sergeant of Leighton Buzard, Albert Hopkins, William Janes, both labourers of Leighton Buzzard, John Warner Adams, farmer, Eliza Ann Hitchcock, wife of Erza, John Rackham, carpenter of Leighton Buzzard, William Hodgins, labourer of Hockcliffe and George Miles, carpenter of Heath & Reach. In the case of Dick Rogers accused of receiving stolen fowls.

26 May 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

William Hodgins: lived with his parents in Hockcliffe and worked for Mr Adams, a farmer. He looked after the fowls. On 25 April he put the fowls in the henhouse and counted them. Next morning the henhouse door was broken and the door open. 4 fowls were missing. John Warner Adams: a farmer of Hockcliffe. On 27 April 4 of his fowls were missed. He went to look for the fowls and then advised the police. He made enquiries of various poultry dealers at Leighton Market. He was able to describe his fowls. William Janes: an Ostler at the Greyhound in Leighton Buzzard. On 26 April, he went with his brother Ned, and Alfred Hopkins to Hockcliffe. There, they broke in Mr Adams fowl house and stole 4 fowls. They put them in a place at the Greyhound, when they returned. On 27 April, he and Alfred Hopkins met Dick Rogers and told him they had taken 4 fowls down to his house. Rogers said he could not go there yet and they all went to the Book public house and drank together. Days later he met Rogers in town and Roger paid him for the fowls. Rogers did not ask where they had come from. Alfred Hopkins: lived with his parents at Leighton Buzzard. On 26 April he went with Janes and took 4 fowls from Mr Adams hen house. On 27 April he took them down to the prisoner’s house and left the fowls with Mrs Rogers. He retuned and met Janes and went to met Rogers. They went to the Boot and drank together. [cross examination] he had taken them to Rogers as he knew he bought fowls and that Jane shad sold him fowls. Ezra Hitchcock: lived at Leighton and was a licensed hawker. On 29 April he met Rogers and he asked him if he would buy 3 fowls, 2 hens and a cock. Rogers asked for 2 shillings and sixpence each. He agreed to buy them and asked him to bring them next morning. They were delivered next morning but he was not home. He disposed of them to Rackham and subsequently bought the cock back for 2 shillings and sixpence. Eliza Ann Hitchcock: wife of Ezra. On 30 April the prisoner brought some fowls to the house and she paid him 7 shillings and sixpence. John Rackham: a carpenter of Leighton. On 11 May he gave 4 shillings and sixpence for 3 fowls to Ezra Hitchcock. He sold the cock back to Ezra Hitchcock and the other 2 fowls to George Miles. George Miles: a carpenter of Heath & Reach. On 12 May he brought 2 fowls from John Rackham. John Olden: a police sergeant based at Leighton. On 27 April he received information regarding the loss of the fowls. He made enquiries of the town’s poulterers, among them the prisoner. He showed him the paper description and asked if he had seen them. Rogers said Mr Adams had been round the same morning. He later apprehended the prisoner on a warrant. The prisoner said he did not know the fowls he received were stolen. On 16 May he received the stolen fowls from Ezra Hitchcock and George Miles. State,ment of the accused – Dick Rogers: not guilty

item

Rogers, Dick,
Olden, John,
Hitchcock, Eliza Ann,
Hitchcock, Ezra,
Janes, William,
Hopkins, Albert,
Rackham, John,
Miles, George,
Adams, John Warner,
Hodgins, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, HEATH & REACH, receiving stolen goods, fowls, surgeon