QSR1844/1/5/10

Depositions and examination - Joseph Horne of Podington

2 October and 7 November 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

2 October ------------- Robert West of Podington, labourer – a fortnight last Sunday (8 October) a brown and white duck belonging to himself and his brother Thomas was lost. They could not find it until yesterday when he saw it in the yard of Mr Laughton’s public house. He saw Richard Brown of Podington bring their duck and another much like it into the yard to be bowled for. He said it was his. His brother came and they would have taken it home, but Joseph Horne would not let them. They had had the duck with some others for more than 2 months. He fed it every day and knew it by its markings. A day or two after he lost his duck he went to Horne’s house, having heard he had some ducks, but Horne’s people would not let him look at them. Thomas West of Podington, labourer – the duck produced belongs to himself and his brother. When he saw it yesterday he wanted to take it home, but Horne would not let him. Horne said the duck had been his and he had sold it to Lovell and another to be bowled for. James Revitt of Podington, labourer – he lives at a house opposite Mr West’s. He knows their ducks and recognizes the duck produced as their property. Christopher Lovett of Podington, labourer – he bought the two ducks produced yesterday from Joseph Horne for 3/6. He told Horne they were not the ducks he had won at Whitsuntide. Horne said “No – one of them is exchanged”. Joseph Horne – it is his duck. He fetched it out of Mr White’s moat a month last Sunday. He has kept these two locked up ever since until last Sunday. He sold them yesterday to Christopher Lovell. He won the duck they claim at bowls last Whitsuntide. One of the ducks he won was afterwards exchanged with Mr White. They were both alike. George West of Podington, labourer – he knows the ducks produced to be Horne’s property. They are the two Horne won at bowls at Whitsuntide. He [West] bought them when they were about 3 weeks old and brought them up. He put them up to be bowled for at Whitsuntide. He is sure they are the ducks he once had. Sarah Horne, sister of Joseph Horne – she has had the care of the 2 ducks for a month. A fortnight ago West came to their yard. She saw him looking in where the ducks were kept. He did not ask her to let him look at them, but he said he had lost one. 7 November ----------------- William Green, rural policeman stationed at Podington - he was present when the depositions were taken against Joseph Horne on a charge of stealing West’s ducks. He kept the duck and another taken from Joseph Horne until 26 October when he put the duck down in the street of Podington about 25 yards from West’s house. The duck immediately went to the barn in West’s premises, which was about 40 yards away. The duck was then locked up by West’s mother. The duck he now produces is the same. There was no other duck in the street to lead it into the barn. It remained in the barn an hour with the door open before it was locked up. Joseph Horne – his ducks used to herd with West’s and other ducks in the street and he had often had occasion to fetch them home. John Horne of Podington, labourer, father of Joseph Horne – his son had the 2 ducks locked up for a month before Podington Feast. His son won the ducks sometime in the summer. He knows the duck well. He has never fed it. When he said just now that the other duck was his son’s he said it by mistake.

item

Horne, Joseph,
West, Robert,
West, Thomas,
Revitt, James,
Lovell, Christopher,
Green, William,
West, George,
Horne, Sarah,
Horne, John

PODINGTON, police constable, stealing animals, ducks, bowling, policeman