QSR1855/1/5/34-37/a

Depositions of Samuel Fuller, gardener of Sandy, William Andrews, carrier of Sandy and William Breakwell, police constable of Sandy. In the case of Jesse Francis, William Leighton and George Wiltshire, accused of stealing 4 tame ducks.

9 December 1854

From: 1854 To: 1855

Samuel Fuller: a gardener of Beeston. He had 5 ducks which lived near the pond about 100 yards from his house. There were sae on 2 December but he missed 4 of them the next morning. On the evening of 6 December, from his enquiries, he suspected Jesse Francis and William Leighton. He sent for PC Breakwell. He saw Francis accused of taking the ducks and he said he was very sorry for what he had done and told him who had been with him at the time of the theft. The policeman went for the other suspects. William Andrews: a carrier of Sandy. He remembered Mr Fuller complaining of the loss of his ducks. He lived about 20 or 30 yards from the pond in which the ducks were stolen. He was sitting up with his wife who was suffering from [?] between 11pm and midnight on 2 December. He heard the ducks make a noise and looked out of the window and saw 2 men with one of them in their hands. He saw them kill them. He ran down to the other pond and saw 4 men. When they got near the second pond they separated; 2 going one way and 2 the other. Leighton and Francis are like the men he saw but he was not certain enough to swear. John Dines, a wheelwright of Beeston, told him Mr Fuller and John Matthews had lost ducks. He did not recall the reply he made. He had heard conversation in public places about the ducks and had head some of those charged. He believed he had talked of the names of all 4 men charged whilst in conversation relating to the theft of the ducks. He committed that he knew of Jesse Francis and William Leighton and the other names he had heard mentioned by others. PC William Breakwell: On 7 December Mr Fuller advised him of the loss of the ducks. At the time Mr Fuller spoke to him, Leighton was going across the green and Fuller said he was the one he suspected. He went to Leighton and enquired where he had been on that night and Leighton said he was at Beeston and went home between 10 and 11pm. He then went to Francis and told him that he must go with him for what he had done on Saturday night. He told him it was a foolish thing as the ducks could be worth 1s 6d each; Francis replied that was about the value. He took Francis to the Barley Mow to meet Mr Fuller where he was given information regarding the other suspects. He apprehended all four men. They had been in the cage at Sandy the previous night when Jeeves had been taken ill. The doctor said Jeeves was too ill to attend and offered a certificate.

item

Wilshere, George,
Leighton, William,
Francis, Jesse,
Fuller, Samuel,
Andrews, William,
Breakwell, William,
Dines, John,
Jeeves, James

SANDY, Beeston Green, stealing, ducks, illness