QSR1870/4/5/1

Depositions and examination - William Larman of Shillington, labourer, charged with stealing 20 live tame ducks from Joseph Gudgin, value 30s

28 July 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

James Bucket, foreman employed by Joseph Gudgin of Shillington, farmer - he lives at the farm called Apsley End Farm. In May 1869 there were about 50 ducks on the farm, On the morning of 15 May 1869 there were a score missing - 11 larger ones and 9 lesser ones. Seven ducks which he identified as some of those lost were produced before the magistrates on 20 May 1869 when George Trussel was committed to trial for stealing them. Trussel was convicted at Bedford. He was accustomed to seeing the ducks so often that he was quite sure as to the identity of those produced. He thinks the ducks were worth 30s. They were all the property of his master. Pirton is about a mile from the farm. James Walker of Pirton (Herts), innkeeper - he is a carrier and publican. On the night of Saturday 15 May 1869 George Trussel was in his house. He heard Trussel say to his son Charles "I have got some ducks at home and shall sell them and have a spree on Whitsun Wednesday". The next morning he saw 11 live ducks, some loose in the yard and some in his carrier’s van which stood there. He thought the ducks belonged to a neighbour, but when he sent to the neighbour he did not own them. About 9am Larman and Trussell came into his yard. Trussell said they were his ducks and asked him to buy them. He refused and insisted they were taken away. He saw Larman carry them across the orchard. Charles Walker, labourer, son of James Walker of Pirton and resident with him - he recollects Trussell being in their house on Saturday 15 May 1869. He heard Trussell say he had some ducks to sell. Next morning he saw some live ducks in their yard. He was driving them towards a pond when he met Larman and Trussell. Trussell said the ducks were his and they drove them back to the house. His father ordered them to go away and take the ducks with them. He saw Larman and Trussell go towards a field of Mr Woods. From what he heard a few hours later he went to that field. He saw a quantity of blood in one place which looked quite fresh. John Phillips, police constable stationed at Pirton - from information received from Mr Bucket he went with PC Ruff to make inquiries about the stolen ducks. From what he heard from James Walker he followed Larman and Trusselll down a lane leading to West Mill. Larman and Trussell caught sight of them and suddenly turned through a gate into a field, ran away together at first and then separated. He saw PC Ruff catch Trussell. Larman escaped. Later in the day he went with Charles Walker to a field where Walker pointed out a large clot of thick blood. In an adjoining field he found 7 ducks freshly and hurriedly killed. He gave the ducks to PC Ruff - they were the ones later identified by Bucket. He believes that Larman has been away from the neighbourhood ever since until now. Ebenezer Ruff, police constable stationed at Shillington - he went to Pirton on 16 May 1869 in search of the ducks and also of Larman and Trussell. He saw them in a lane and followed them with PC Phillips. He saw them run away. After running through one field together they parted. He caught Trussell after running about ¼ mile. He asked Trussell where the ducks were he had from Walker’s. Trussell denied knowing anything about any ducks. He received 7 ducks from PC Phillips and produced them before the magistrates when Trussell was committed for trial. He has held a warrant for the arrest of Larman but did not find him until last Monday night. On their way to the lock up on the following morning Larman admitted killing the ducks for Trussell because he could not. William Larman - he knows nothing about the ducks. He saw George Trussell bring them on his back. He does not know where Trussell was going to take them, where he got them from, or who they belonged to. After he had done ringing the bells he met George Trussell against the hand post. Mr Walker was coming up the lane with the ducks at the same time. They all went down together and caught the ducks. Mr Walker asked him to catch them. That is all he knows. [No witnesses called]

item

Larman, William,
Gudgin, Joseph,
Bucket, James,
Walker, James,
Walker, Charles,
Phillips, John,
Ruff, Ebenezer,
Trussell, George

SHILLINGTON, PIRTON, stealing animals, ducks, foreman, farmer, innkeeper, police constable, Shillington Apsley End Farm