QSR1846/3/5/27

Depositions - Samuel Walker charged with stealing 8 live ducks from James Musson

3 June 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

James Musson of Luton, carpenter – on Wednesday 27 May he left his house at Pepper Hill and went into the town on business between 10 and 11am. When he returned about 3pm his 8 ducks were gone. He later heard that Joseph Bond of Biscott Mill near Luton had found a duck in his yard and had taken it to Mr William Cotchin of High Town, Luton to keep for him. On Tuesday 2 June he went to Mr Cotchin’s and his son showed him 6 ducks his father had bought on the previous Saturday. He can swear to one of the ducks as his property as it is torn under the jaw. He has no doubt the other ducks were also his, but cannot swear to them as they have grown so. Mr Cotchin said he had bought the ducks from Alfred Flint. He went to Flint, who said he had bought them from Samuel Walker. He had seen Walker hanging about his premises on the morning he lost the ducks, and in the afternoon Walker helped him look for them. William Cotchin of Luton, baker – on Saturday 30 May Alfred Flint brought 6 ducks to his house in High Town. Flint said he had bought them from a man out of work. He bought them from Flint. On Tuesday 2 June James Musson brought one of the ducks into his bakehouse and said he could swear to it as his property by a cut under the jaw. Alfred Flint of Luton, baker – on Saturday 30 May about 9am Walker asked if he knew anyone who wanted any ducks. He said he would look at them and may buy them himself. About 3pm he called at Walker’s house to see the ducks. Walker said 2 were dead as they had got into a pan of water and the bigger ones had trodden two of the little ones under foot. They were in the stair hole in Walker’s house. He gave Walker 3s for them. Soon afterwards he sold them to William Cotchin. Charles Maffey of Luton, police constable – from information received he took Walker into custody on 3 June. Walker said “If I have got into trouble I must get out of it. I am not the first who has stolen things by a good many. I think Musson can’t do much with me about the ducks. I found them a long way off his house in a ditch”. He had never mentioned Musson’s name to Walker, nor had he told him what he took him for.

item

Walker, Samuel,
Musson, James,
Bond, Joseph,
Cotchin, William,
Flint, Alfred

LUTON, Luton Pepper Hill, Luton Biscot Mill, Luton High Town, stealing animals, ducks, carpenter, baker