QSR1884/2/5/3a

Depositions of Joseph Green, poulterer of Houghton Regis, Joseph Pratt, poulterer of Houghton Regis, James Kingham, farmers foreman of Toddington, Matthew Bailey, dealer of Chalgrave and George Hull, police constable of Woburn Sands. In the case John Weston accused of stealing 12 ducks and a sack.

14 March 1884

From: 1884 To: 1884

Joseph Green: resided at Bidwell in Houghton Regis and was a poulterer. On 3 March he had about 1000 ducks on his premises. On 4 March he found a duck about 50 yards from where they roosted and he knew wit could not have got out of place as the place ought to have been locked. He examined the place and found the door unlocked. He counted the ducks, knowing he had 302 of a particular sort, and found 10 to 12 of those missing. They were just over 3 weeks old. The 4 dead ducks produced were like those he had lost. He also missed a bag at the same time which had been in the same place as the ducks. Joseph Pratt: a shepherd in the employment of John Pratt, a farmer of Calcott farm in Houghton Regis. On 4 March he found 4 dead ducks under a wheat stack on the farm, near the road between Bidwell and Toddington. There was no blood on the ducks. He knew they had not been there the day before. James Ringham: foreman to Mr Phipp’s at Toddington. On 4 March the prisoner came to the farm whilst he was cutting hay. The prisoner came and said he had lost his way and that he had been walking all night. The prisoner had a canvas bag and a leather bag. At the prisoners request he let him rest in his house and when he returned for breakfast he saw the leather bag contained 7 ducks. The prisoner said he had bought 12 ducks in Dunstable but 5 of them had died in the night and he had thrown them out. The prisoner said he had 2 sitting hens in the canvas bag but would not show him them. The prisoner said he came from Woburn Sands and was a duck dealer with 5000 ducks. The prisoner asked the way to Woburn and he put him on the right road. Matthew Bailey: a dealer of Wingfield in Chalgrave. On 5 March he missed 2 sacks from his premises. On looking around he found a sack on his premises which wasn’t his and gave it to PC Hull. George Hull: a police constable stationed at Woburn Sands. On 4 March he was summoned to Weston’s lodging in Woburn Sands. At the lodgings he found 7 ducks and 2 hens. The prisoner said he had bought them in Leighton Market from a man a foot taller than himself. The prisoner was taken into custody and charged. On 6 March he returned to Weston’s lodgings and found a bag. He also received sacks from Osborn of Tebworth and Bailey. Statement of the accused: nothing.

8 pages

item

Weston, John,
Green, Joseph,
Pratt, Joseph,
Kingham, James,
Bailey, Matthew,
Hull, George

HOUGHTON REGIS, TODDINGTON, Wingfield, WOBURN SANDS, stealing, sack, duck, poulterer, foreman, dealer