Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1844/2/5/14-17
  • Title
    Depositions and examinations - Thomas Riseley, Frederick Haines, John White and Thomas Rowney, all of Bletsoe, labourers
  • Date free text
    9 April 1844
  • Production date
    From: 1844 To: 1844
  • Scope and Content
    Elizabeth King, wife of John King of Thurleigh, farmer – on Saturday 30 March she went to feed her ducks and found one missing. She did not make any search for it. She next saw it at Mr Hulatt’s at Twin Woods on 1 April. There is no particular mark about the duck, which is a white one, but she is sure it is hers. Haines told her he had part of the beer for which the duck was sold. The duck now produced is the same. Robert King, son of Elizabeth King – about 10am on Saturday 30 March he was keeping his father’s sheep on the road about 100 yards from his father’s house . He saw Riseley, Haines and White pass along the road towards the house. About 6pm he was in the house and saw the same three with Thomas Rowney go along the road together towards Thurleigh. Charles Austin of Thurleigh, publican – a week last Saturday Riseley, White and Hines came out of his house and asked him in the yard if he would buy a duck. He gave 16d for it. They were later drinking together at his house. Rowney was there. He does not know whether Rowney was there before he bought the duck or not. He sold the duck next day to Hulatt at Twin Woods for 18d. James Danes of Sharnbrook, one of the rural police – by direction of his superintendent Graham he went on Tuesday 2 April to apprehend Rowney on suspicion of stealing the duck. Rowney said he was with the other three all day on Saturday after 10am. He apprehended White. He took the duck and set it down in Mr King’s yard. It went directly to the place where it use to roost with the others. Joseph Neale of Harrold, one of the rural police – last Sunday evening Thomas Riseley was given into his custody on the charge of stealing the duck. Riseley stated he would not suffer for others, that he was with White and Haines on the road, that there were 4 ducks in the road and he caught one. Riseley said he afterwards gave the duck to White who kept it all day, and that he, White, Rowney and Haines went to Thurleigh in the evening and sold the duck to Mr Austin. James Riseley, Frederick Haines and John White – nothing to say. Thomas Rowney – “I did not know anything about the duck. I paid for my own beer. I did not hear anything about the duck until Monday evening.”
  • Reference
  • Level of description
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