QSR1845/3/5/18

Depositions and examination - James Laughton of Farndish, labourer

24 June 1845

From: 1845 To: 1845

Henry Minney of Little Staughton, farmer – on Friday nights 6 June he lost 2 sows, 4 store pigs and a small pig from his farm. They were all white. One of the store pigs was marked in the ear, another had a short tail. The yard gate and the sty gate were open. The next Monday he discovered one of the sows and 2 of the store pigs in the possession of Mr Crawley of Wollaston. The next Monday 16 June he discovered the other sow and 2 store pigs (one marked in the ear and the other with a short tail). The 4 store pigs were worth 30s each, one of the sows was worth 70s and the other 50s. The smaller pig was worth 6s. The 3 pigs discovered on 16 June were then in the care of William Heath, one of the Northants rural police, at Wollaston. He has since taken them home. William Heath of Mears Ashby (Northants), one of the rural police – he went in search of the pigs. On 9 June he discovered a sow and 2 store pigs in the possession of Thomas Chamberlain of Mear’s Ashby, a poulterer. He knew the pigs were Mr Minney’s from the description. He kept them until 16 June when he gave them up to Mr Minney at Wollaston. Thomas Chamberlain of Mears Ashby (Northants), poulterer – on the morning of Sunday 8 June John Wykes asked if he wanted to buy some pigs. He bought a sow and 2 store pigs for £4 10s, paying 17s 6d on account. The next day he heard some pigs had been stolen and went to the police constable and gave the pigs up to him. George Crawley of Wollaston (Northants), innkeeper – on the evening of Saturday 7 June Laughton drove into his father’s yard a sow and 2 store pigs and left them there (he had previously asked if he might leave them there for a little time). John Wykes was with Laughton and they both left together. They each had a stick driving the pigs. The next morning Wykes came and took them away. He saw the same pigs on the 16th in the possession of PC Heath and was present when Mr Minney identified them as his. Charles Dale, one of the rural police – he took Laughton into custody on 8 June on a charge of having 3 of Mr Minney’s pigs in his possession. Laughton told him he knew the pigs were stolen and that he was very sorry he had had anything to do with them. James Laughton – on Saturday 7 June about 4.30 John Wykes asked if he would go to Wollaston with him. He drove some pigs for Wykes. He got to the Gap first and waited for Wykes at the Gap – this was about halfway from Irchester. He asked Wykes if they were his pigs. Wykes said they were not his and that he was going to meet a man from Northampton.

item

Laughton, James,
Minney, Henry,
Heath, William,
Crawley, George,
Chamberlain, Thomas,
Wykes, John,
Dale, Charles

FARNDISH, Little Staughton, Mears Ashby, Wollaston, stealing animals, pigs, farmer, police constable, poulterer, innkeeper