QSR1864/1/5/17

Depositions of Thomas Gatward, farmer and butcher of Luton. John Dickens, blocker of 27 London Road, Luton. John Cook, labourer of Tower Hill, Luton. Samuel Elston, bird fancier of 4 Hitchin Road, Luton. George Smith, sergeant of police of Luton. In the case of James Kempston accused of stealing 12 live fowls.

9 November 1863

From: 1863 To: 1864

Thomas Gatward: he had a yard down Dallow Lane in Luton and at the end of November 1862 he lost 12 fowls from the farm. They were worth 15 shillings. The fowl produced was one of them. The fowls were almost full size when he lost them. He saw the fowl at Mrs Dickens on 29 October 1863 and gave it to Sergeant Smith. He had bought the fowls from Samuel Elston at harvest 1862. John Dickens: he was a blocker and lived at 27 London Road, Luton. He knew the fowl and he had bought it of John Cook at the end of January or beginning of February 1863. He had it since until he gave it up to Mr Gatward on 2 November. John Cook: he had seen the fowl and was in no doubt it was the same fowl he had bought from the prisoner in the Winter. He sold it to Mr Dickens on the same day. He gave the prisoner 1s 6d. Samuel Elston: he was a bird fancier and at the later end if August 1862 he sold some chicken to Mr Gatward. The fowl produced was one of them. It was peculiarly marked. He had reared the chickens himself and had seen them frequently at Gatwards after he had sold them to him. He did not see it again until 2 November and knew it again directly. Sergeant George Smith: he took the prisoner into custody on 3 November and charged him with stealing 12 fowls. He showed the prisoner the fowl and told him that was one of the 12 and that he had sold it to Cook. The prisoner said he had sold it to Cook but bought it from a man in Luton market. He did not know who the man was. The prisoner said a boy of the name of John peck was with him when he bought it and he paid him half the money. Statement of the accused: he bought it in the market.

item

Kempston, James,
Gatward, Thomas,
Dickens, John,
Cook, John,
Elston, Samuel,
Smith, George

LUTON, fowls, farmer, butcher, stealing