QSR1848/4/5/4

Depositions and examination - James Hobbs charged with stealing 12 live fowls from Samuel Haydon

8 August 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

Samuel Haydon of Luton, farmer - on 5 April his man called him between 4 and 5am and said that the hen house had been broken into. He went to look and found the tiles had been removed. A bludgeon stood near the hen house and a short ladder. There were over 100 fowls in the hen house and several were gone. There were no eggs there when he went in and he found some feathers outside which appeared to have been recently plucked. On 12 April he came to Luton and saw 12 fowls at PC Keating’s house which he identified as his. One was a large young fowl which he supposed to be a cock but which he found to be a pullet, and was remarkable on that account. Another was a red and black fowl which he identified as his, and he has no doubt they were all his. They were all young fowls which he had bought about Michaelmas. John Keating of Luton, police constable - on 5 April he went to Samuel Haydon’s at New Mill End in Luton and found the hen house had been broken into by the tiles being taken off. On 11 April from information he received he went with PC Millard and searched a hay rick about 2 miles beyond Mr Haydon’s and found 12 fowls in their feathers. Mr Haydon identified them as those he had lost. On 6 August he he apprehended Hobbs at Luton. Hobbs said he didn’t care about being taken as they could only give him 2 or 3 months for it. Hobbs said that on the night they stole the fowls he was drinking at Dunhams of the Swan at New Mill End with Richard Gamby and some others. they all left about 11pm. Hobbs agreed it was the night of the 4th of April. Hobbs said he was going home by himself and Gamby followed him and asked him to go with him to steal some of Mr Haydon’s fowls. Hobbs told him they would be found out. Gamby said they would not and he had had many a one from there. Hobbs went with him into Mr Haydon’s yard. Gamby put his hand through a hole in the hen house wall but could not reach the fowls. Gamby lifted Hobbs up and Hobbs put his hand into the hole, took out one fowl and gave it to Gamby to kill it. Gamby then brought a ladder. They both got up the ladder and took off the tiles. There was a stick in the way under the tiles and they took turns to cut it away as they had only one knife. Gamby shoved Hobbs in through the hole and he passed out some of the fowls to kill. Hobbs killed the rest himself. Hobbs found four eggs in a hen’s nest and passed them out to Gamby. They put the tiles on again and shook some straw over them. Gamby took some of the fowls in his blacksmith’s apron and Hobbs put the rest in his frock. They then went to Hobbs’ mother’s and lit a candle. They put some of the fowls in a basket and tied the others up in a handkerchief. They then took them away and as they were passing Wilmot’s hay rick they lay down and went to sleep. When they awoke it was broad daylight. They were afraid of being seen with the fowls and hid them in the bottom of the rick. They then went to Robinson’s, the sign of the Martin Cat at Harpenden and had some bread, cheese, onions and beer and boiled the eggs and ate them. He did not say anything to Hobbs to induced him to confess. James Hobbs - had nothing to say. William Robinson of Harpenden (Herts), alehouse keeper - he keeps the Martin Cat public house at Harpenden. On 5 April Hobbs came to his house with Richard Gamby at about 8am. They had some bread and cheese and onions and beer. They asked him for a saucepan to boil 2 or 3 eggs and he lent them one. They boiled 3 or 4 eggs and ate them.

item

Hobbs, James,
Haydon, Samuel,
Keating, John,
Gamby, Richard,
Robinson, William,
Dunham

LUTON, East Hyde New Mill End, Harpenden, stealing animals, fowls, farmer, police constable, Luton Swan, Hertfordshire inns