QSR1878/1/5/12

Depositions and examination - James Goddard, charged with stealing 10 live fowls value 5s from William Elisah Limbrey at Dunstable on 13 November 1877

21 November 1877

From: 1877 To: 1878

Kate Marian Limbrey – she is a daughter of William Elisha Limbrey living on the Square at Dunstable. Her father had 2 fowls in a rick yard at the back of their garden on Tuesday 13 November. She looked after them. She heard them screaming and went to the rick yard. She saw Goddard run across the rick yard with something in his arms. She could not see what it was, but the screaming came from what he had in his arms. From what Mr Robinson their neighbour said she fetched her father. They searched the rick yard but could not find the fowls. She saw Goddard’s face while he was running away. He turned round and looked at her. William Elisha Limbrey – he was fetched by his daughter and from what he heard from Mr Robinson communicated with the police. He searched for the fowls in company with PC Tofield but without success. He saw the fowls afterwards coming from the end of Mr Lockhart’s (a neighbouring) field. He identified them and took possession of them. He valued them at 5s. It is possible but not probable for the fowls to get into the field. They had never done so. The fowls were in a very rumpled state. [Cross-examined] He had lost 14 before. They always keep at home. The rick yard is his by privilege. He had seen the fowls safe about 11am. This is not his prosecution. He does not know who is the prosecutor. William Addington, police sergeant – he went to Mr Limbrey’s and saw the 2 fowls produced. They appeared very wild and the hen had feathers sticking out. On Saturday he apprehended Goddard, who said he didn’t know anything about them. Inside Goddard’s trousers he found a dead fowl. It was quite warm. Goddard said he bought it but did not know from whom. William Robinson – he is a farmer living on the Square. About 12.30 on 13th he heard a fowl scream and went to his rick yard which is next to the rick yard where Mr Limbrey keeps his fowls. He saw someone run past a straw rick. He did not hear fowls scream just then. Afterwards he saw a young man running up the side of the hedge away from the rick yards. He was about 50 yards off. He did not see his face. He thought he was carrying something. The man was running in a stooping position. He saw him a third time running down the other side of the hedge. [Cross-examination] He could only see the man’s head the other side of the hedge. He is not sure the fowls might not run the other side of the hedge. Witnesses for the defence --------------------------------- Thomas Hawkins – he is a labourer living at Houghton Regis. He knows Goddard and Charles Morgan. On 13 November he was with Goddard from 9 until about 12.30. Morgan was there nearly all that time. Goddard could not have gone between 12 and 12.30 into Mr Limbrey’s, Mr Brown’s or Mr Robinson’s premises without his seeing him. He left Goddard in the centre of the town. It would take about 5 minutes to go from there to Brown’s rick yard and back again. About 20 minutes to one he met Morgan in West Street and about 10 minutes to one he met Goddard coming down West Street. [Cross-examined] He was looking out for work. About 12 he was in the Butts. He knows the time by the town clock. Goddard was going down Chruch Street about 12.30 when he left him and he met him at ten to one. Charles Morgan – his is a labourer living at Dunstable. He was with Hawkins and Goddard from 9 until about 11.30 and left them at Kirby Road up West Street. He saw Goddard in West Street about 12.45.

item

Goddard, James,
Limbrey, William Elisha,
Limbrey, Kate Marian,
Addington, William,
Robinson, William

DUNSTABLE, HOUGHTON REGIS, Dunstable The Square, Dunstable West Street, stealing animals, fowls, police sergeant, farmer