Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1875/1/5/3
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - Thomas Brooks of Kempston, charged with killing a sheep belonging to Joseph Joyce on 4 December 1874
  • Date free text
    12 December 1874
  • Production date
    From: 1874 To: 1875
  • Scope and Content
    Edmund Hutchings of Kempston, shepherd – he is in the service of Mr Joseph Joyce. When he went into his sheep yard on the 5th December about 7.15am he saw one of the sheep lying down on its side dead. He picked up a beer bottle within a foot of the sheep which he gave to his master. He pulled 3 small pieces of wool from the sheep’s mouth and gave them to his master. Brooks has worked on the farm. Eli Bailey of Kempston, beerhouse keeper – he keeps the Three Horse Shoes Beer Hosue at Kempston West End. Brooks was at his house on the night of the 4th. He left the house about 10 minutes after he first came in, came back in about ¼ hour, and left at about 10. When he left he took a bottle with a pint of beer in it. He bought the bottle. The bottle produced is very much like the one he bought and has about a pint in it. Brooks would pass Mr Joyce’s sheep yard on the way home. Joseph Joyce of Kempston, farmer – On Saturday 5th he went into his sheep yard at about 7.15am. He found a sheep dead. The shepherd turned it over and picked up the bottle produced. He has tasted the contents of the bottle – it contains beer, newly brewed. He saw the shepherd take the pieces of wool he produces from the sheep’s mouth. The wool seemed to have been shoved into the sheep’s throat. After the sheep was skinned he found it very much bruised. On the following Monday he went to Brooks’ house and asked him if he did any work after 11 o’clock on Saturday. Brooks said he did not. He asked Brooks if he began the job afresh on Monday morning where he was at work. Brooks said “yes”. He had got out of the field when Brooks called him back and asked if he found a dead sheep in his yard on Saturday morning. He said he did. Brooks said “I did it and I am very sorry for it”. Brooks offered to pay the value of the sheep and said he could keep the carcase. Thomas Brooks – made no statement.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
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