QSR1848/4/5/31

Depositions and examination - John Smith charged with stealing one live duck from Richard Marks Brown at Luton on Friday 13 October 1848

14 October 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

Daniel Brown of Luton, miller (affirmed as a Quaker) - he lives at Brache Mill at Luton with his father Richard Marks Brown. On Friday 13 Oct a man named Worsley told him one of his father’s ducks had been stolen and that the man who stole it had gone towards the place where the windmill stood. He followed and found Smith in a lane by the side of a close called Marsletts in the act of killing the duck. Smith admitted taking the duck and said he had done it because he was in a state of starvation. Smith threw the duck down. He picked it up and gave it to Thrussell, then later to PC Keating. Samuel Thrussell of Luton, miller - he works for Richard Marks Brown. On 13 Oct he went after Daniel Brown and Smith. He met Brown coming back with the duck. He identified the duck as Richard Marks Brown’s property. It is a white duck marked on one of its feet. There were only 2 of those ducks. He raised them and marked them himself. John Keating of Luton, police constable - Daniel Brown sent for him and he found Smith with him. Brown showed him the split in the duck’s foot by which he said it could be identified. Smith admitted kicking the duck and begged Brown’s pardon. George Worsley of Luton, labourer - he saw Smith close to Richard Marks Brown’s mill. Smith stooped down, picked up a duck, put it under his round frock and walked off with it. He went and told Daniel Brown. John Smith - “I have nothing to say. They saw me take it.”

item

Smith, John,
Brown, Richard Marks,
Brown, Daniel,
Thrussell, Samuel,
Keating, John,
Worsley, George

LUTON, stealing animals, ducks, millers, police constables, MILLS, POVERTY