QSR1848/4/5/10-12

Depositions - William Wilds, Joseph Swailes and Jonathan Munn

25 & 28 September 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

25 September -------------------- Levi Welch of Luton, gamekeeper - on 24 September between 5 and 6pm he saw Wilds and Swailes walking down the road between Eaton Green and Luton towards Luton. Munn was walking inside the field adjoining the road alongside them. They were about 100 yards from Eaton Green. He saw Wilds and Swailes throwing stones into the hedge and heard a cock hollow. The cock came out of the hedge and ran down the road. They both threw a stone at it. One of them hit it and knocked some of the feathers out. The cock ran into the hedge and they stood and threw stones for about 2 minutes. He then heard Munn say “I’ve got him” They came towards him and Wilds said “come on, be quick, let’s go down here”. He asked Wilds if they had killed him. Wilds said he had not got the cock. He said Munn had. Munn called him a “d - nation thundering liar”. He said “you have got it and I’ll see whether you have or not”. He went towards Munn who turned back and ran up the side of the hedge. Munn took the cock out of his right hand pocket and threw it over a gate into the road. The cock ran into the hedge. He went and told Mr Wood. They looked for it and found it in the hedge. It died in Mr Wood’s hands. It is the fowl now produced. 28 September ------------------- Thomas Wood of Luton, farmer - he believes the fowl produced to be his property. He had seven of the same sort, all white ones. He counted them on Monday 25th and there are only 6 left.

item

Wilds, William,
Swailes, Joseph,
Munn, Jonathan,
Welch, Levi,
Wood, Thomas

LUTON, Stopsley Eaton Green, stealing animals, fowls, gamekeeper, farmer, animal cruelty