QSR1847/2/5/3/c

Depositions and examinations - James Thoroughgood charged with stealing 5 live fowls from Richard Marks Brown

19 March 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

Samuel Thrussel of Luton, miller – he lives with Mr Richard Marks Brown of Luton and has the care of the fowls. On Wednesday 10 March he saw the fowls all correct. Three fowls roosted in a pig sty and two in a shed. He locked the hen house door up. On Thursday morning he found the henhouse door broken open. He found the fowls were gone from both the pig sty and the shed. He found a fold stake lying before the hen house. After he locks the hen house he always takes the key into the house and did so on Wednesday. There were footmarks in the pig sty. He was shown some fowls by PC Millard on 14 March, 2 of which he can swear to as Mr Brown’s property. One is a young black cock with white feathers in the wing and white on the top and side of his head, and the other is a black pullet with the feathers pecked off behind the head. John Millard of Luton, police constable – on Thursda 11 March he received information that Mr Richard Marks Brown’s henhouse had been broken open. He examined the premises and found footsteps of two persons in the snow near to a pig sty in an enclosed yard. He traced the footsteps into a yard occupied by John Clark. From information he received he searched a rick belonging to William Townrow on Winsdon Hills. Under the thatch he found 29 fowls, two of which were identified by Samuel Thrussel as Mr Brown’s property. The place was so high it would be impossible to reach without a ladder or standing on someone else’s shoulders. He apprehended Thorogood. Arktavious Walter Wooding Godfrey of Luton, labourer – on Wednesday 10 March about 9pm he was talking to James Thorogood who said he had 4 fowls hidden, 2 picked and 2 not, and asked him to go with him to fetch them and cook them. Thorogood said they were in Mr Townrow’s hayrick on Winsdeon Hills under the thatch. Thorogood said there must be two because one needed to stand on the other’s shoulders. The next Saturday morning Thorogood said Allen and Betts knew where they were. William Wilds - of Luton, labourer – last Saturday afternoon he was with Jonathan Munn opposite Mr Waller’s shop in Luton. Thorogood was standing opposite Pigotts. Munn had mentioned to him that he knew a young man who had got some fowls. Munn beckoned Thorogood over and asked if he could have some that night. Thorogood said he could and arranged to meet him at the Shoulder of Mutton at 7pm. Thorogood said if they wanted any he would fetch them. He asked Thorogood how many there were – he said 12 or 13 picked, and it would be best to have the picked ones as if they found any feathers they would be done. Thorogood said they had been there a day or two and wanted moving or they would be good for nothing. He saw Thorogood again between 11 and 12 at night at the Traveller’s Rest and said “what a liar you are Winny”. Thorogood said “it is a stale game there is no [haste?] now”. Jonathan Munn of Luton, labourer – on Friday 12 March he went into the Old English Gentleman public house in Luton. Thorogood lay on a form asleep. Thorogood woke up and asked him if he knew anyone who wanted any fowls. He said no. Thorogood said he had about 12 or 14 picked. He asked if they were all right. Throrogood said they were all square enough, nobody had found them. The fowls had laid there 3 or 4 nights. On 13 March he was going down the street at Luton with William Wilds and saw Thorogood talking to Godfrey opposite Pigotts. Thorogood asked if they had a mind to have some of them. He said it was a pity for them to lay there and spoil, so he could bring half a dozen and they would have a look at them. He said he would be at the Shoulder of Mutton at 7pm. He did not go there till past 8 and saw no more of Thorogood that night. Charles Maffey of Luton, police constable – on Sunday 14 March he went to William Townrow’s clover rick on Winsdon Hills with PC Millard. They took the fowls produced from under the thatch. 17 of the fowls are picked and the rest unpicked.

item

Thoroughgood, James,
Thrussel, Samuel,
Brown, Richard Marks,
Millard, John,
Townrow, William,
Wilds, William,
Munn, Jonathan,
Maffey, Charles

LUTON, stealing animals, fowls, police constable, miller, snow