QSR1887/1/5/2-4

Depositions of Joseph Joyce, farm manager of Wilden, Daniel William Lightfoot, licensed victualler of the George & Dragon Inn, Mill Street, Bedford, Thomas Phelps, inspector of police of Silver Street, Bedford and William Lee, police constable. In the case of William Pell, Herman Fuller & Henry Fensom accused of stealing 11 hens and 2 cock fowl.

11 December 1886

From: 1886 To: 1887

Joseph Joyce: resided at Lost Lane Farm in Wilden and was manager for Mr Frederick Street. On 4 December he fastened the henhouse as usual and everything was normal. On the morning of Sunday 5 December he found the backdoor of the henhouse broken open. On the Monday he counted the fowls and missed about 13. The prisoners were labourers at Wilden. He went to Bedford and visited the police station where he saw 11 hens and 2 cocks. 5 of the hens were dead but he recognized them all as Mr Street’s property. Daniel William Lightfoot: lived at the George & Dragon in Mill Street, Bedford. On 4 December, 3 men came to his house. He recognized Pell & Fuller as 2 of these men. Pell asked him if he could do with some fowls and Lightfoot said he could if they were right. Pell and Fuller returned at dinner time with a third man, not the 3rd prisoner. They bought 10 fowls. Pell said they would bring them at 9pm. At 10.30pm Pell came to his house and asked him to get his pony and cart and go with him along the Goldington Road. When they got about half way between the old toll gate and Goldington clock, he was told to stop. Pell went over into the field and retuned with Fuller and Fensom, each carrying a sack. They put the sacks in the cart and then got in. They were stopped by Inspector Phelps by the stream laundry. At the police station he saw the sack contained 11 hens and 2 cocks, 5 of the hens were dead. He had not said he would pay them for the fowls. Thomas Phelps: Inspector of the borough police. From information he received he went to the Goldington Road at 11pm and saw Lightfoot in a cart with a man. Half an hour later he saw Lightfoot come back and stopped him opposite the steam laundry. The 3 prisoners were in the cart. He asked what was in the cart and Lightfoot said there were just a few sacks. Phelps asked what was in the sacks and discovered fowls in each of the 3 sacks. He charged the prisoners. 5 of the hens were dead. Pell bolted from the cart. William Lee: sergeant in the borough police. About 11.30 he saw the cart coming along Goldington Road with 4 men in it. He heard inspector Phelps call out “Stop him”. He saw Pell running towards Goldington. He stopped Pell and asked him why he was running away. Pell said he hadn’t done anything. On the way back to the cart Pell said he only had what belonged to him. On the way to the station Pell bolted away. Statements of the accused: nothing

item

Fensom, Henry,
Fuller, Herman,
Pell, William,
Joyce, Joseph,
Lightfoot, Daniel William,
Phelps, Thomas,
Lee, William,
Street, Frederick

WILDEN, stealing, fowls, farm manager, licensed victualler, Bedford George & Dragon, Bedford Steam Laundry Company, Bedford Goldington Road