QSR1895/3/5/3b,4a

Depositions of Hugh Fleming, farmer of Felmersham, Lucy Asher, widow of Felmersham, William Harry Woodward of Bedford and Joseph Hebbes, police constable of Pavenham. In the case of Henry Price and John Woodward, accused of stealing a live, tame hen and 5 chickens.

7 June 1895

From: 1895 To: 1895

Hugh Fleming: a farmer of Felmersham. On Monday 3rd June at about 2.30pm he was in his brick yard. He saw the prisoner, with the two Woodwards, drive past towards the church. About 9.30pm on the same day he saw the prisoner, with the two Woodwards, drive past again. He thought he prisoner was lost so told the man with him to talk to the prisoner. He went upstairs to his room when he heard the sound of wheels go past his house. A few minutes later he heard footsteps in the path of the farm. He looked out of the window and saw Miss. Asher who said that the prisoner was taking his chickens from his field on the side of the road. He hurried down and, along with his son and other man, rushed outside. He could hear the sound of wheels going towards Bedford. He went to the coops and found that one had been opened and the hen and some chickens were missing. He told his son to get his bicycle and follow the van. Lucy Asher: widow of Felmersham. On Monday 3rd June at about 9.30pm she was walking with a friend on the road near Mr. Fleming’s house. She saw a van parked with a man in the van. As soon as she got close the van started on towards Bedford. She then heard a hen and some chickens calling out in Mr. Fleming’s field and she went and told Mr. Fleming what she had heard. William Harry Woodward: a boy of 13 years living in Bedford. On Monday 3rd June he was with his brother, the prisoner John Woodward and in the Crescent in Bedford. At 12pm, the prisoner Henry Price came to them and asked them if they would like to go for a drive and told them to go to the stables in about half an hour. He went to the stables and got in the prisoner’s van. The prisoner drove them to Clapham and to Milton Ernest then onto Radwell, Felmersham. They arrived in Felmersham at about 9.30pm. The prisoner pulled up by the side of the wall and told them to go and get some hens and gave them a sack. He and his brother, the prisoner John Woodward, got over the wall and got a hen and some chickens out of a coop. They put the fowls in a sack and gave them to the prisoner, Henry Price, who then put them in the van. They then drove towards Milton. He and his brother got out of the van with a sack, but abandoned the sack when they saw a man coming towards them on a bicycle. They ran down the road and left the prisoner, Henry Price, in the van. Joseph Hebbes: police constable of Pavenham. On Monday 3rd June at about 10pm he was on duty in Milton Ernest and, from information received, went towards Mr. Andrews Farm in Milton Ernest. About 40 yards from the farm he saw the prisoner, Henry price coming from it in a van. He stopped the van and found inside a sack containing a hen and 5 chickens. The prisoner said that the fowls belonged to a boy who he gave a ride to. He asked where the boy was now and the prisoner replied that he did not know. He asked if the prisoner knew what the sack contained and the prisoner replied that he did as he had heard it cheep. He said to the prisoner that a hen and chickens have been stolen from Mr. Fleming’s property at Felmersham and that the prisoner must go with him back to see the fowls belonged to Mr. Fleming. Mr. Fleming identified the fowls and the prisoner was taken into custody. He charged the prisoner, John Woodward with stealing the hen and 5 chickens with his brother. Henry Price: “Not Guilty, nor did I induce or coerce them in any form to take them” John Woodward: “Guilty”

item

Fleming, Hugh,
Asher, Lucy,
Woodward, William Harry,
Hebbes, Joseph,
Price, Henry,
Woodward, John

FELMERSHAM, PAVENHAM, BEDFORD, farmer, police constable, stealing, fowls