QSR1855/3/5/17b,19a

Depositions of Joseph Mann, labourer of Luton, Josiah Bliss, shepherd of Luton, John Kinsey, housekeeper of Luton, amuel Pope, superintendent of police of Luton and George Smith, police constable of Luton. In the case of Jeremiah Allen and James Gibbs, accused of receiving 2 live sheep, knowing that they were stolen.

14 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Joseph Mann: foreman to Mrs Butlin. In consequence of information received, he went on 9 May to an orchard at Stopsley in the occupation of James Gibbs. He saw there 2 ewe sheep, the property of Mrs Butlin. He knew then by the mark on the rib which he had made with oil and redding. He had not sent the sheep of 9 or 10 days. He went to Mrs Butlin’s flock before he went to Gibbs orchard and found a sheep there which did not belong to Mrs Butlin. Jeremiah Allen was then Mrs Butlin’s shepherd. He told Allen there was a sheep that did not belong to their mistress and Allen asked which one. Allen said the same sheep had been there all Winter. Allen was a relation of Gibbs by marriage. They were brother-in-laws. The strange sheep in the flock was not worth more than 20 shillings. The 2 sheep found in the orchard he believed were worth 40 and 45 shillings. The strange sheep was inferior. The 2 ewes found in the orchard had been in his possession since. He was positive those ewe were the property if Mrs Butling. Mrs Butlin had 3 lots and he had marked them all himself in June. They were marked EB but by rubbing together the letter were no longer distinct. Josiah Bliss: he was shepherd to Mr Sworder. He lived at Battlesden Green where James Gibbs lived. On 1 May he saw a ewe in Gibbs’s orchard. It was a fine sheep. On 9 May he saw another 5 ewes in there. He had seen Gibbs in the orchard. He thought he had seen the ewes before in Mrs Butlin’s flock. There were other sheep in the orchard. He told Joseph Mann what he had seen. He had known Allen for many years and had often seen him and Gibbs together. Gibbs told him he had bought one of the ewes for 2 sovereigns at Hitchin. John Kinsley: a housekeeper to Mr Sworder. On 6 May he had been passing Gibbs orchard and saw Jeremiah Allen and Gibbs there. He saw a ewe coming out of the hovel. Allen was looking at the sheep. Superintendent Samuel Pope: on 9 May he apprehended Jeremiah Allen and charged him. He said he had not stolen any sheep and had not seen Gibbs since Sunday last. On the following day Gibbs called him to his cell and said he said he wanted to tell all about it. Gibbs said Allen was in it and had given him one of the ewes on Tuesday and the other he had exchanged with him for one of his tegs. Pope took his statement which he read and signed. PC George Smith: he apprehended Gibbs on 9 May and told him the charge that he had received the sheep from Allen knowing it to be stolen. Gibbs said he had bought the sheep at Hitchin market and had given 2 pounds for it. The other sheep had had bought 6 weeks ago from a man who’s name he did not know. He was present on 10 May when the statement was read to Gibbs by Pope. Pope signed it with his mark. Statement of the accused: James Gibbs - Wiseman, Davis, Allen, Shepherd and Allen stole a sheep from Ivory of Luton about Michaelmas. They came to him and wanted him to put it with his sheep and sell it for them. Jeremiah Allen – nothing to say.

item

Wiseman, Robert,
Gibbs, James,
Mann, Joseph,
Bliss, Josiah,
Kinsey, John,
Pope, Samuel,
Smith, George,
Butlin

LUTON, stealing, sheep, sheep dealer, shepherd