QSR1836/2/5/7-8

Depositions and examinations - William Rust of Flitton, cordwainer, and Humphry Adams, charged with stealing sheep from Edward Aldridge and Walter Osborn

2 April 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

Against William Rust ------------------------------- Edward Aldridge of Westoning, butcher – last Saturday night 26 March he had a flock of wether sheep in an enclosure in Flitton. On the Sunday morning he was told one was missing. On Monday morning he found that a cross Leicester sheep was missing. He believes it was stolen. James Stanton of Hitchin (Herts), fellmonger – he is employed by Mr Whiting the fellmonger of Hitchin and buys sheepskins for him. Last Monday 28 March Humphry Adams brought 3 sheepskins to his master’s yard and he bought them. One was a Leicester weather. From the mode of flaying he has no doubt all three skins were taken off by one man. They were jointed in the same way. Walter Osborn of Flitton, yeoman – last Tuesday he attended before the magistrates at Hitchin while they committed Humphry Adams for stealing 2 sheep of his. Adams had been found out by means of the skins. Adams said he bought them from William Rust. When he left the magistrates’ room he saw Rust in Hitchin market and told him his name had been made use of in an improper way and he thought it was not all right. He asked Rust to go along with him. Rust said he would but that he wanted to speak to a young man first. Rust then turned round and ran away. James Stanton [further examination] – he came up to Osborn and Rust while they were talking together. As soon as Rust ran away he pursued him and caught him opposite to Mr Hodgson’s. He asked Rust whether or not he sold a man a watch yesterday. Rust said he was sure he did not and if it was for that he did not care, but he was afraid it was for something else. He brought Rust back to the magistrates room and delivered him up to the constable Isaac Spencer. Isaac Spencer of Hitchin (Herts), yeoman – he received William Rust from James Stanton last Tuesday. Rust was remanded by the magistrates until today for further examination. This morning while they were waiting in the magistrates’ ante-room Rust confessed to him that after he and Humphry Adams had killed Aldridge’s sheep. Humphry wanted to kill another but Rust would not. Rust said he did not know Mr Osborn’s two were his, and if he had he would not have done it, but it was done now and could not be helped and he had as leave go out of the country as stay in. Rust said he and Adams came together to Pirton and had the skins in a sack, and stopped at the White Horse two or three hours. William Rust – “I have nothing to say, only Adams caught Aldridge’s sheep and I killed it. He helped me to skin it. As to Osborn’s sheep Adams caught one and I caught the other and he helped me to skin them both. We brought them the next morning to Hitchin.” Against Humphry Adams -------------------------------------- Walter Osborn of Flitton, yeoman – he is a farmer at lives at Greenfield in the parish of Flitton. He had a score of teg sheep out in Pulloxhill parish with John Thompson, close adjoining to his own farm. He saw them in Thompson’s field on Sunday 27 March. About 3pm on Monday due to information given to him he went to the field and found two of the tegs were missing. He looked around and found the carcasses of two sheep with their skins taken off lying in the ditch of the adjoining field. He could not track anything any further. He took the carcasses to his own house. This morning (Tuesday) he came to Hitchin market and received information which induced him to go to Mr Whiting’s the fellmonger. He went down his yard and spoke to his man James Stanton, who showed him two skins that Humphry Adams had brought. He found Humphry Adams in Hitchin and asked him about the skins. Adams denied bringing any to Hitchin, and a little while later said he had bought them from a man named Rust. Adams later went down Mr Whiting’s yard with him and pointed out the 2 sheepskins now produced. He is sure they are his skins and belonged to the two tegs. He knows them by the pitch blend on the near side, by some reddle on the back, and by holes in the skin of the head which correspond to the wool left on the heads of the carcasses. James Stanton of Hitchin (Herts), fellmonger – he is employed by Mr Whiting. Yesterday morning (Monday) Adams brought the two teg skins to him in his master’s yard at Hitchin, with one ewe’s skin and some little lambskins. He gave Adams £1 4s for the lot. Adams said he bought the teg skins from a man at Shefford. Humphry Adams – he bought the skins from William Rust of Flitwick and will swear he bought them.

item

Rust, William,
Adams, Humphry,
Aldridge, Edward,
Stanton, James,
Spencer, Isaac,
Osborn, Walter,
Thompson, John,
Whiting

FLITTON, WESTONING, Greenfield, PULLOXHILL, Hitchin, stealing animals, sheep, butcher, fellmonger, cordwainer, sheepskin, farmer