QSR1883/4/5/5

Depositions of George Robinson, labourer of Carlton, Alfred James, labourer of Chellington, Joseph James, labourer of Chellington and Thomas Page, police constable of Harrold. In the case of Frederick Betts accused of maliciously wounding a ram.

17 August 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

George Robinson: on 24 April about 11am he was ploughing in the field of Mr Rogers in Chellington. In the field were some sheep and a ram. He saw Frederick Betts on top of the ram, which was lying on the ground and it was struggling under him. He was there for about 10 minutes. When Robison went towards him, Betts got up and walked away. Betts had been lying on the ram’s belly with his head towards its hind quarters. He saw Betts put something in his pocket. He went back to his ploughman and sent for the shepherd. Alfred James: on 24 April he had been working with George Robinson when he saw the prisoner in the field lying on the ram’s belly. The ram was struggling. He stood still whilst Robinson went towards Betts. In consequence of what Robinson told him, he went and fetched Mr Roger’s shepherd. Joseph James: a shepherd in the employment of Mr Rogers. On 24 April he was called to the field in which his master kept sheep and a ram. He caught the ram and saw blood running from him. He examined the ram and found he was cut. There was a cut about 2 ½ inches and an inch deep on the ram’s testicles. The wound was fresh. The ram was a valuable one and in consequence of the injury was sold for a small sun at Bedford Market. Thomas Page: on 10 August he apprehended the prisoner under a warrant and charged him with the offence. The prisoner made no reply. On the road between Carlton and Harrold, the prisoner told Page he thought the matter had been settled and he would plead guilty. He gave Page the knife he had used and said he had taken a lot of liquor at the time and did not know what he was doing. Statement of the accused: he wished to reserve his defence.

item

Betts, Frederick,
Robinson, George,
James, Alfred,
James, Joseph,
Page, Thomas,
Rogers

CHELLINGTON, CARLTON, HARROLD, wounding, shepherd, sheep