QSR1884/2/5/2

Depositions of Thomas Butlin Taylor, farmer of Stopsley and William Tatman, police constable of Stopsely. In the case Arthur Taylor accused of killing and stealing a duck.

11 February 1884

From: 1884 To: 1884

William Tatman: on 10 February he was on duty on Stopsley common at 2.45pm. He saw the prisoner go across Mr Thomas Taylor’s field with 2 dogs and then into the yard. The dogs went into the meadow and drove the ducks down to the sheep and he saw the prisoner put a duck under his coat. He followed the prisoner across the field for a quarter of a mile. When the prisoner saw he was getting close to him, he climbed over the hedge, pulled the duck from under his coat and killed it. He saw the duck flutter its wings several times. The prisoner hid the duck in the grass. Tatman took the duck across to Mr Taylor and asked if hit was his duck. Thomas Butlin Taylor: resided at Hill [?] Farm at Luton. He had lost a duck and the one produced by the policeman was his. Statement of the accused: he was guilty and had been drinking. He would like it settled and now had plenty of work.

item

Taylor, Arthur,
Taylor, Thomas Butlin,
Tatman, William

STOPSLEY, farmer, stealing, drinking, duck, dogs, sheep