QSR1847/3/5/24

Depositions and examination - James Burgess

19 May 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

James Hobbs of Luton, labourer – he is horsekeeper to Mr Daniel Davis of Scourge End Farm in Luton, farmer. Five or six weeks ago last Sunday, he thinks ont eh 1st Sunday in April about 4pm, he was at the back of the straw barn at Mr Davis’ farm. There were 2 calves in the barn penned up for weaning, and a good deal of straw. Both were cow calves. He heard the calves running about and looked through a hole in the boards close to where they were. He saw Burgess standing just behind one of the calves [description of what he saw]. Burgess saw him looking through the hole. He went into the stable. He and Burgess did not say anything to each other. He told the odd boy Henry Chalkley of it that night and they later talked about it. George Adams of Luton – he works for Mr Davis. Having heard what Burgess had been doing he told him “You have made fine talk of yourself Jem ain’t you. It’s a strange thing you did not know better than getting in the barn at that calf”. Burgess said he was sorry for it. John Millard of Luton, police constable – that afternoon (19 May) about 2pm he went to James Burgess and told him he should take him into custody for what he did with the calf. Burgess said he did not do anything – he was going to but saw the horsekeeper looking through the boards so did not, and if he was punished for it he would suffer wrong. Burgess showed him the barn, where the calves were, where he was, and where the boy looked through the hole.

item

Burgess, James,
Hobbs, James,
Davis, Daniel,
Chalkley, Henry,
Adams, George

LUTON, Luton Scourge End, sex crimes, cows, horsekeeper, farmers, farm labourer