QSR1847/3/5/31

Depositions - Matthew Tomalin charged with stealing a live fowl from James Burge

27 May 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

John Hales of Luton, ostler – he is ostler to James Burge who keeps the Crown Inn at Luton. He has the care of his fowls. About 5 weeks ago he lost a young cock. About 10 days ago he was passing Henry Webb’s house and saw a fowl he thought looked like the cock he had lost. He went to Webb’s house on 27 May and saw the fowl now produced which he can swear to be the one that was lost. It is an Egyptian fowl and he reared it. He never saw any of the same breed at Luton. Henry Webb of Luton, painter and glazier – about 5 weeks ago Matthew Tomalin brought him a cock in a basket and asked him to exchange it for one of his, which he did. He also bought 2 hens from Tomalin for half a crown. John Millard of Luton, police constable – on 27 May he took Tomalin into custody for stealing the cock. Tomalin said he bought it for 2s 3d in Luton Market about 5 or 6 weeks ago, but did not know the man he bought it from. Tomalin offered to pay Henry Webb 2s 3d for the fowl if he would let Burgess have it.

item

Tomalin, Matthew,
Burge, James,
Hales, John,
Webb, Henry,
Millard, John

LUTON, stealing animals, fowls, ostler, painter, glazier, police constable, Luton Crown