QSR1864/1/5/24,25

Depositions of John Bentley, farmer of Warden. George Pryor, police constable of Southill. In the case of Daniel Flint accused of stealing 2 live tame fowls & James Odell accused of receiving said fowls.

23 December 1863

From: 1863 To: 1864

John Bentley: he was a farmer and kept fowls. PC Pryor brought him 2 hens to his house. The hens belonged to him. He knew them by their feather and had bred them. They had been safe in the yard on the Monday morning and were worth about half a crown a piece. PC George Pryor: on 22 December he received information regarding the loss of some fowls which induced him to go to Shefford and to the house of Daniel Flint’s father. He found Daniel Flint here and asked him what he had done with the sack and fowls which he had brought home the day before. Flint denied having anything of the kind but after a little time said he would go and fetch the sack. He followed Flint to the house of James Odell’s mother and found 2 fowls in the privy. Odell was there and said he had bought the fowls from Daniel Flint. He took the boys into custody and took the 2 fowls to John Bentley who identified them. As he went along Flint said he had the fowls from Bentley’s farm. Statements of the accused: Daniel Flint – he caught the fowls by the side of road and sold them to James Odell for a shilling each. James Odell – he bought them from Flint for a shilling a piece. They had got the ‘pip’ and there was a chance they might die.

item

Flint, Daniel,
Odell, James,
Bentley, John,
Pryor, George

Old Warden, SOUTHILL, stealing, fowls, receiving stolen goods