QSR1864/1/5/8-9

Depositions of John Goodman, miller of Holcut. Thomas Howe, police constable stationed at Aspley Guise. Felix Higgins, brickmaker of Husborne Crawley. John Olden, police constable stationed Ridgmont. In the case George Perry and William Daniels accused of stealing a white swan.

26 October 1863

From: 1864 To: 1864

John Goodman: a miller at Holcut Mill. On Saturday 17 October he had a white swan in the private water at the mill. He had marked it by taking the first joint off the left wing. It had a value of 20 shillings and he had the swan for 2 years. He missed the swan on 18 October from information given to him by his neighbour Mr Douglas. He went in search of the swan and found the spot at the side of the water where the swan appeared to have been taken. There were white feathers on the bank and some swan down as well as some marks of footsteps. He traced the footsteps across the adjoining ploughed field. They were very distinct. When they came to a ditch separating the ploughed field from another field, there were the head, neck and wings of a swan covered over with grass. One of the wings had a portion missing. He left them in the ditch. He could trace the footmarks no further as the adjoining field was a grass one. He met the policeman and advised him. He believed the wing to be of the swan he had lost. On 19 October he saw 2 pairs of shoes which the police constable had corresponded with the footmarks at the side of the water and across the ploughed field. PC Thomas Howe: the 2 prisoners both lived in Aspley. On Sunday 18 October he was advised of the loss of the swan. The prosecutor pointed out the ditch. That evening he searched the ditch in the company of PC Olden and found the concealed neck, head and wings of a white swan. The prosecutor pointed out the spot by the side of the water where he believed the swan taken and there were white feathers and footmarks there. He traced the footmarks across a ploughed field to the adjoining ditch and to the direction of Aspley. They took possession of the head, neck and wings. He apprehended Daniels the next day at Aspley Guise and on being told the charge Daniels said he knew nothing about it. He saw the coat and slop of Daniels at his lodgings and found them both marked with blood and had white feathers on them. He told the prisoner he had found white feathers in his coat pocket and the prisoner Howe must had put them there. He took him to the lock up in Woburn. He then took Perry into custody and searched him. He found marks on blood on both of Perry’s coat pockets. He took the shoes from Perry and Daniels. He took the shoes and another pair he found at Perry’s lodging to the ploughed field in the company of PC Olden. They compared the footmarks and found them to correspond with Daniels shoes and the spare he had found in Perry’s lodgings. [Detailed descriptions of the footmarks….]. Felix Higgins: the prisoner, Daniels, worked for him on Saturday 17 October. About 8pm, Daniels came to his house for his money. He paid him and Daniels stayed at his house for about an hour. Daniels wore a dark coat and a white slop similar to those produced. PC John Olden: he went with PC Howe to a field and in the ditch found a swan’s neck, head and wings. Next day he went with PC Howe to the house where the prisoner’s lived together at Aspley and searched the house. He found a slop and coat which Daniels said was his. He found white feathers in the coat pocket. In the company of the prosecutor and PC Howe they patterned the prisoner’s shoes with the footmarks in the field. Both prisoner’s shoes corresponded. Statement of the accused: “I am not guilty” (both).

item

Perry, George,
Daniels, William,
Goodman, John,
Howe, Thomas,
Higgins, Felix,
Olden, John

Holcott, ASPLEY GUISE, HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, RIDGMONT, stealing, swans, miller, brickmaker