QSR1838/3/5/27-29

Depositions and examinations - William Morgan, John Shreaves and Thomas Dear charged wtih stealing 3 tame ducks, the property of Warner Green of Stanford Mill, in company with William Jones and Barney Dimsey on 30 April 1838 at Clifton

May 1838

From: 1838 To: 1838

Warner Green of Southill – last Monday evening he missed 3 ducks. While looking for them to shut them up for the night his servant Mary Burnage saw 4 men by the river, two on one side and two on the other – there is a path only on one side. On Wednesday evening a young man named Ashwell, a carpenter living at Clifton, came to his house and told him that he had bought 3 ducks from William Morgan of Clifton that morning, and having heard he had lost some thought it right to mention it. Ashwell showed the ducks to his [Green’s] mother, who said she could swear to them. He was not at home, but has seen the ducks this morning and could also swear to them. He understood Ashwell gave Morgan half a crown and a quart of beer for them. William Ashwell of Clifton, carpenter – last Wednesday William Morgan asked if he wanted to buy 3 wild ducks. He said he did not want them, but did not mind having one. Morgan said he may as well have all three as they would make a good [pye?]. He gave Morgan half a crown and a quart of beer, of which he had some. In the afternoon Mr Ell the butcher was at his shop and he told him he had bought 3 wild ducks which was more than he wanted. He sold one to Ell for 15d. Soon after they went to Rowley’s, the Chequers, and there was a talk about whether the ducks were wild or tame ones. Soon after they heard that Mr Green had lost 3 ducks. He, Ell and another then went to the Mill, where both Mrs Green and the servant girl owned the ducks. William Morgan – he bought the ducks from Barney Dimsey by the side of the river between Clifton and Shefford. Dimsey said he had bought them that morning from a man from Bedford, James Burroughs. Several boys were present. He gave Dimsey 2s and part of a quart of beer. Dimsey said they were wild ducks. He bought them on Wednesday 2 May at about 11.30 by the side of the Shefford Lock. When they had finished their job of mending the lock they went together to his father’s yard, and he paid Dimsey there. He then went home to dinner. He did not go across the river at all. He carried the ducks in his jacket pocket and sold them directly to Ashwell. He did not have them in his possession for more than an hour. When he sold the ducks to Ashwell he said he had shot them. William Morgan senior of Clifton – John Shrives came of his own accord into his house and in the presence of John Wright, James Philipps, himself, and his son Alexander Morgan, acknowledged that he (Shrives), Barney Dimsey, William Jones and Thomas Dear, all of Shefford, killed the ducks (which he believes were the property of Warner Green) and took them away from the canal. John Shrives of Shefford, aged 15 – acknowledged that on the day in question between 6 and 7pm he and the 3 others were by the side of the canal near Mr Green’s. He and Dear were on the side nearest Green’s house, Dimsey and Jones were on the other side. The three ducks that had been pelted were taken out on the other side of the canal as the 2 of them were crossing over by the lock. They all 4 went to Mr Morgan’s ozier bed near the swing bridge and hid the ducks there. They never heard any more of the ducks until they hear that the Southill constable had been after them. They have not had any money from Dimsey or Jones. Thomas Dear of Shefford, aged 14 – signed the above confession

item

Morgan, William,
Shreaves, John,
Dear, Thomas,
Jones, William,
Dimsey, Barney,
Green, Warner,
Burnage, Mary,
Ashwell, William,
Morgan, Alexander,
Wright, John,
Philips, James,
Ell,
Rowley

CLIFTON, SOUTHILL, SHEFFORD, Stanford Mill, stealing, stealing animals, ducks, servant, carpenter, butcher, Clifton Chequers, canals, osiers