QSR1854/3/5/20

Depositions of Henry White, labourer of Biggleswade, Thomas Bentley, farmer of Biggleswade and Samuel Wallis, police constable. In the case of John Hinton accused of stealing a fowl.

29 May 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Henry White: employed by James Bentley of New Spring in Biggleswade. On 28 May he had been in his master yard where he heard a shot which then rattled the boards close to where he stood. He saw 3 men running away. He knew 2 of the men, John Hinton and Thomas Presland. He ran after them and just before he came up on Hinton, Hinton dropped a fowl. Hinton called to the others and said “are we going to have this bugger following us in this way”. Presland, who was carrying the gun then turned around and pointed it at White. White stopped and went back, picking up the fowl on the way. The hen had been shot but was not dead; its legs were broken. He took it to his master and when he got home he directed White to kill it. He had known Hinton for 4 or 5 years and was sure he was one of the 3 men. Thomas Bentley: he lived with his father James Bentley and managed the farm. The fowl produced he believed to be his fathers property. There had been one like it sitting in the straw rick which had since gone missing. PC Samuel Wallis: he went to Mr Bentley’s and received the fowl. He apprehended John Hinton and told him the charge. He said he knew nothing about it as he had been in bed. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say.

item

Hinton, John,
White, Henry,
Bentley, Thomas,
Wallis, Samuel

BIGGLESWADE, stealing, fowls, farmer