QSR1855/4/5/20-21

Depositions of William Warren, labourer of Wrestlingworth and Charles Riddiford, police constable of Wrestlingworth. In the case of David Chessum and James Huckle, labourers of Wrestlingworth, accused of stealing nine fowls.

27 August 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

PC Charles Riddiford: about 11pm on 26 August he heard some men talking close to Mrs Maris King’s garden gate. Suspecting something was wrong he watched them and saw 2 men go into the gate. He then went around the back into Mrs King’s farm yard and as soon as he got in he heard the fowls making a noise. He went in the direction of the noise and saw 2 men under the bullock shed catching fowls at rest and knocking their heads to kill them. Immediately afterwards one of the men came down the yard with fowls in his hand. He saw it was David Chessum and took him into custody. He handcuffed him and took him to his own house. He got assistance and went back to Mrs King’s yard ad there under the bullock shed manger he found James Huckle. He took him into custody and took him to his own house. Huckle said there had been 4 fowls worth sixpence each and offered to give Riddiford 5 shillings to say nothing about it. William Warner: a foreman to Mrs King. On 27 August he was advised his mistress had been robbed of her fowls. He went to Riddiford and identified the fowls as being the property of Mrs King. He then went to the yard and under the bullock shed he found 5 more, recently killed, fowls. He gave them to Riddiford. Statement of the accused: David Chessum – he hoped to be forgiven. James Huckle – he hoped to be forgiven as he had never down anything wrong before.

item

Chessum, David,
Huckle, James,
Warren, William,
Riddiford, Charles

WRESTLINGWORTH, stealing, fowls