QSR1858/3/5/1

Depositions of Thomas Turvey, butcher and publican of Houghton Regis, George Tompkins, labourer of Houghton Regis, William Tompkins, labourer of Houghton Regis, John Eames, publican of Houghton Regis William Rogers, publican of Houghton Regis, Thomas Tollitt, painter of Houghton Regis and Charles Dale, police sergeant of Houghton Regis. In the case of Thomas Fensom accused of stealing 4 live ducks.

26 April 1858

From: 1858 To: 1858

Thomas Turvey: on 15 April he had 2 white ducks, a coloured duck and a white drake in the shed on his premises. Between 6 and 7pm he locked them in the shed and the following morning they had gone. He gave the information to the police and on the same day he saw his ducks in the possession of Sergeant Dale. The prisoner had lodged at his house up to the 1[?] April and on the 15 April he told him he would have no more to do with him. About 11.50am on 15 April the prisoner went out of the house the back way, near the ducks in the shed. The prisoner had no blood on his hands or trousers. The next morning when he was in custody, he perceived the prisoner to have blood on his shirt and trousers. The police showed him a knife belonging to him, which he had not used for some time. On the morning he missed the ducks he saw the knife had been removed. Last Monday the ducks were shown to him and he identified them. They were worth about 8 shillings. George Tompkins: he worked for Mr Eames of Houghton. On 16 April he found 2 dead ducks in his master’s garden and gave them to his master. William Tompkins: on 16 April he found 2 dead ducks in the grinding tub where they grind whitening. He took them to his master. John Eames: on 16 April he received 4 dead ducks from the last 2 witnesses and gave them to Sergeant Dale. William Rogers: he lodged at Mr Turvey’s and the prisoner had also been lodging there. On the evening of 13 April the prisoner asked him if he would buy a duck and said he would let him have one cheaper than anyone else would. Thomas Tollitt: on 15 April he was at the Chequers public house at Houghton. The prisoner was there and asked if he would like a duck for diner tomorrow. He told him no and the prisoner went to sleep. Sergeant Charles Dale: he went in search of the prisoner and found him lying in the stable of Mr Turvey’s yard. He noticed some blood on his trousers, his left hand and his shirt sleeve. It appeared quite fresh. He asked how the prisoner accounted for the blood and the prisoner said his nose had been bleeding. He then picked some feathers from the prisoner’s clothes and asked him to account for them. The prisoner said he would say no more and was taken into custody, He received the ducks from Mr Eames. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Turvey, Thomas,
Tompkins, George,
Tompkins, William,
Eames, John,
Rogers, William,
Tollitt, Thomas,
Dale, Charles

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, ducks, butcher, publican, painter, Houghton Regis Chequers