QSR1855/3/5/4

Depositions of Thomas Bentley, farmer of Biggleswade, Henry White, labourer of Biggleswade. In the case of Thomas Presland, labourer of Biggleswade, accused of feloniously shooting a fowl.

13 April 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Henry White: on 28 May he was in his master, Mr James Bentley’s, yard at New Spring in the Biggleswade at about 5am. He heard a gun go off close by and the shot rattled against the boards close to where he stood. He immediately ran out and saw 3 men running away. He knew 2 of them as John Hinton & Thomas Presland and ran after them. He had nearly caught Hinton when he dropped a fowl and called out to the others to ask if they were going to have him follow them all the way. Presland was carrying the gun and turned round and pointed the gun at him. White stopped, turned round and picked up the fowl Hinton had dropped. It had been shot but was not dead. He afterwards showed the fowl to his master’s son, Mr Thomas Bentley. Thomas Bentley: he managed the farm for his father and recalled the witness producing the fowl which had been shot. He believed it to belong to his father. There had been one like it sitting in the straw rick a day or two before. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Presland, Thomas,
Bentley, Thomas,
White, Henry,
Bentley, James

LUTON, farmer, shooting, fowl