QSR1885/2/5/3b

Depositions of James Alexander Henman of Bromham Grange, George Short, police constable of Clapham, Charles Taylor, milkman of Bromham, George Whiting, George Mardlin, police sergeant of Turvey, John Burnapp, painter of Tavistock Street, Bedford. In the case of John Seamark accused of stealing 12 live fowls.

7 March 1885

From: 1885 To: 1885

James Alexander Henman: a farmer living at Bromham Grange and keeper of a large number of fowls. He kept some in a henhouse built in the roof of a cart hovel and others in a disused sheep hovel. Early in October there had been 70 to 80 in the sheep hovel and 30 in the cart hovel. This was reduced down to 2. On 9 October there was a sale of farming stock and after the sale he found the cart hovel empty. He missed another 2 from the sheep hovel. George Short: he recalled the sale at Bromham on 9 October and he had seen Seamark there with a companion, George Whiting. He later saw them in Bromham and when they saw him they stopped and turned to walk in the direction of Mr Henman. Charles Taylor: a milkman in the employment of Mr Henman. He remembered the sale on 9 October to be a very wet day and he had used a sack to cover this knees. He used the sack about 3pm on his drive to Bedford and on returning he placed the sack in the cart in the hovel. He missed it the following morning. Mr Henman kept fowls in the hovel. George Whiting: on 9 October he went to the sale with John Seamark. Seamrk had come to Steventon in the morning as he had mother and relatives there. After the sale they went to the inn and left about 10pm. Seamark suggested they went to Henman’s but Whiting did not wish to go. They both went to Henman’s and looked around the farm yard. They stopped at the cart hovel and lit a match. They got on a wagon and Whiting got into the hen house. Seamark stood in the wagon holding a sack. There were only 2 hens up there and Seamark told him to have them. Seamark killed one and Whiting the other. They went round to the other hen house and had 2 fowls. They put the fowls in the sack and went off to Whiting’s house in Steventon. Whiting went to Seamark’s father’s barn and left the fowl there. Next morning Seamark came to him and they went to the barn. Seamark said they must get rid of the sack. Seamark agreed to meet Whiting at Bedford Station. Whiting went by the 4pm train. On meeting Seamark told him to walk towards the Red Inn and he would walk behind. He was sent into the Red Inn for beer and to wait for Seamark. He saw Seamark on Saturday and was given some money by him. Whiting had stolen fowl once before. George Mardlin: he went to Seamark’s father to search for the sack. He found a sack in the pond. There had been bother about a pig between Whiting and Seamark. John Burnapp: had bought 3 fowls off the prisoner. Statement of the accused: nothing

6 pages

item

Seamark, John,
Henman, James Alexander,
Short, George,
Taylor, Charles,
Whiting, George,
Mardlin, George,
Burnapp, John

Bromham Grange Farm, BROMHAM, CLAPHAM, TURVEY, Bedford Tavistock Street, stealing, fowls, painter, milkman