QSR1836/1/5/47-48

Depositions and examinations - William Gailor and Richard Dean charged wtih stealing a sheep from Vickeris Prior

5 January 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

George Crawley of Arlesey, labourer – about 1.15 am on Monday 4 January he and John Webb were coming along the footpath across the common in Arlesey. Webb was 13 or 14 poles behind him. As he was coming along the path he saw 2 men in Stanford’s field which is separated from the common by a low hedge. There is a gap in the hedge about a pole long where he saw the men. They were about 6 or 7 poles from him. Each had got a live sheep in a string. When they saw him looking they skulked and stooped down and drove the sheep on before them. One of the men wore a straw hat and a frock open before and the other had a black hat and a smock. At first he thought they were after a hare, but when he saw the sheep he said “Damn you I know who you are”. He knew the man next to him was William Gailor. He did not know the other but he was dressed much as Richard Dean is now dressed. The men threw down the halters they were leading the sheep by and ran away. He called out to his mate. They went up to the sheep and led them home. They took them to Mr West the butcher and called him up and asked what they should do with the sheep. He then took them to David Stanford’s and put them into his stable where he left them until about 3pm while they went round to enquire whose sheep they were. About 4pm Mr Pryor’s shepherd came to their house and owned the sheep. They were two pugs between Southdown and Leicesters. They were he sheep and had been cut. He left them in his outhouse when he came away from home this morning. John Webb of Arlesey, labourer – he was a little way behind Crawley as they were coming home from Henlow Oldfield yesterday morning. Crawley called out and told him he had 2 sheep in halters and that the men had run away. One of the men passed him about 5 poles off on the other side of the hedge. He thought it was Dick Dean and told Crawley so. He led one sheep home while Crawley led the other. They took them to Mr West’s the butchers and then to Stanford’s and tried to find out whose they were. In the afternoon he was at Hayden’s house and Mr Pryor’s shepherd Philip Thompson came. They went together to Crawley’s and Thompson owned the sheep. They were half bred downs wether pugs. Philip Thompson of Weston (Herts), labourer – he is shepherd to Mr Vickeris Pryor. He master’s flock was in a field. There should have been 8 score less 4, but yesterday morning he heard that two of them had been stolen and were at Arlesey. He went with John Webb to George Crawley’s house and recognised the sheep. They were half bred pugs and had Mr Pryor’s brand on them (the letter V in a ring). They were store sheep and were not to be sold until after they were clipped. William Gailor – he was in bed at 9pm on the Sunday night and was not up until between 7 and 8am on Monday morning. Richard Dean – he left Mr West’s about 0pm on the Sunday night. He went home and went to bed directly and was not up until 8am the next morning.

item

Gailor, William,
Dean, Richard,
Prior, Vickeris,
Crawley, George,
Webb, John,
Thompson, Philip,
Stanford, David

ARLESEY, Weston [Hertfordshire], stealing animals, sheep, butcher, shepherd