QSR1882/3/5/1

Depositions of Amos Pratt, labourer of Stotfold and James Lunniss, police constable of Stotfold. Plus an additional notice from the solicitors for the prosecution advising of additional evidence from Alfred Howard of Stotfold. In the case of Joseph Gentle accused of stealing a live fowl.

24 May 1882

From: 1882 To: 1882

Alfred Howard: on the 22 May whilst working together he saw Gentle throw a stone at a fowl and state that he would have a chicken. He later saw Gentle pull a fowl from his pocket. Amos Pratt: a labourer employed by John Bigg of Stotfold. The prisoner also worked for Bigg. On 22 May, about noon, he had fed his masters chickens and all 3 were there. He later identified one of the chickens when shown to him by PC Lunniss. James Lunniss: on the evening of 22 May he met the prisoner coming home from work with a basket under his arm. He asked the prisoner what was in the basket and then searched the basket. A warm fowl was inside. Asked where he had got it from, the prisoner replied he would not tell. Lunniss took him back to Mr Biggs farm and showed the fowl to Amos Pratt, who identified it as one of his masters. Statement of the accused: he wanted to be tried at the quarter session. He had never stolen the fowl away from Mr Bigg.

6 pages

item

Gentle, Joseph,
Howard, Alfred,
Bigg, John,
Pratt, Amos,
Lunniss, James

STOTFOLD, stealing, fowls, farmer