QSR1855/1/5/24

Depositions of Henry White, labourer of Biggleswade and William Hills, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of Samuel Burrows, labourer of Biggleswade, accused of stealing a tame fowl.

6 December 1854

From: 1854 To: 1855

Henry White: he worked for James Bentley of Biggleswade who kept chickens. On 28 May he was up about 5am and going to milk. The cow house adjoined the hen house. It was in the middle of the yard. He heard some shot rattling against the boards and ran out to see 3 men running away. He pursued the, and caught one, John Hinton. Hinton dropped a fowl and another man was Thomas Presland. He got within 50 yards of the third man and thought it was Samuel Burrows. He had known him a great many years and it was broad daylight. He did not see his full face, only the side. He had seen Burrows with the other men lots of times. He picked up the fowl and found it to be Mr Bentley’s. It had been shot. PC William Hills: in May he had a warrant for the 3 men. He apprehended Samuel Burrows and told him what it was for. He handcuffed Burrows but he slipped them and ran away. Burrows had kept out of his way ever since until the previous Monday. Hills saw him at Eaton Socon and as soon as he saw Hills, Burrows ran away. He ran after him and caught him. He asked him why he had run away and he said he was afraid he would be locked up for fowl stealing. Statement of the accused: he had not been there. He had been asked to go along with the party but would not go. He had been along with them before but had given it up long ago.

item

Burrows, Samuel,
Bentley, James,
White, Henry,
Hills, William

BIGGLESWADE, EATON SOCON, stealing, fowls, chickens