QSR1876/4/5/7

Depositions and examination - William East, charged with stealing 3 ducks value 7s 6d from George Pratt at Totternhoe on 14 August 1876

21 August 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

Martha Pratt of Totternhoe, widow – on 14 August she saw East in a meadow belonging to George Pratt in the brook hunting the ducks. She saw him chuck one over a hedge into a field. She went up to East and asked him what he had been hunting the ducks for – he said he hadn’t. She told him she believed they were George Pratt’s. The 2 ducks were some yards away. When she saw him again it was with Mr Pratt. She heard the duck scream in another meadow. When she first saw him he was in the brook near enough to throw it over at the corner near a cartway. [Cross-examined] The 2 ducks she saw were as if the neck had been hurt. The duck produced is the one found when she was with Mr Pratt. William Turvey of Totternhoe – he is a labourer working for Mr John Pratt of Totternhoe. Last Monday he was working in a field belonging to Mr John Pratt. He saw East there who was also working for Pratt. He saw East go away with another man. After that he saw him come through the spinney with 2 ducks in his hand. He saw them throw them over the hedge into the brook. He did not see East afterwards until he came back to work. He saw Mrs Pratt near there. East went away with John Darby. Thomas Bliss of Totternhoe – he is a labourer working for Mr John Pratt. On Monday last he was at work with William Turvey and East. He saw East working with John Darby. They both left their work. East went behind the road and East went to the ducks and brought two, one in each hand. East threw them over the brook into Cow Common. There is a broken hedge. East went over after them. In about 10 minutes he came back. He thinks the ducks were alive because there was not time for East to kill them. George Pratt of Totternhoe, farmer – on Monday he went down to the field and saw East. He asked East if he had seen anything of his ducks. He said it was a curious thing his ducks should go the first time East was there carting. East said “you don’t know as I did kill ‘em. I’ve no clothes nor no money so you can’t do nothing to me – the brook belongs to me where the ducks were”. East had no right in the brook, which belongs to him (Pratt). He identifies the two dead ducks produced as his. The 3rd duck is also his. He spoke to East and the 2 others with him 3 times and he didn’t answer. At first East said as previously stated. Walter King of Totternhoe – he is a policeman at Houghton Regis. On 15th August Mr Pratt came to him with the two ducks. He went with Mr Pratt to the brook against the spinney field. He searched the brook and found a duck dead with its neck broken near the gateway. The duck was laid covered over. Mr Pratt was with him when he found it and said it was his. He took East in charge. On the way to the station east said he did kill the b…s, that he was in trouble and must get out of it as best he could. William East – he is not guilty.

item

East, William,
Pratt, George,
Pratt, Martha,
Turvey, William,
Bliss, Thomas,
King, Walter,
Pratt, John,
Darby, John

TOTTERNHOE, HOUGHTON REGIS, Totternhoe fields, stealing animals, ducks, farmer, agricultural labourer, policeman