QSR1892/1/5/2

Depositions of Geoge Barker; William Henry Smith; Joseph Pilgrm; Robert Smith; William Abbot; John Belgrove; Frederick George Bosworth; John Bosworth and Frederick Barrett In the case of William George did feloniously steal a certain animal to wit a sheep of the price or value of £1.10.0 the property of one John Bosworth the Prosecutor

28th November 1891

From: 1891 To: 1892

This Deponent George Barker on his Oath saith as follows: I am a labourer living at Clapham – on Saturday the 21st November I was at the Star Inn at Clapham – The prisoner was there – He said “ Well you stick to me” I said “Yes” – We changed hats – we went outside nothing was said – We went towards Clapham Folly – Prisoner said “ We will go and we must find a Sunday Dinner” he said “ Will you go with me to fetch the sheep” I said “No” - When we were facing towards Clapham Folly the prisoner pointed on the right hand side of the road and said “here are some sheep here” – I said “I dare not go” the prisoner said “You are no man” – he then pulled his clothes off and offered to fight me – I then left him I turned back and went home – I had got his hat and he had got mine. The prisoner lives at Clapham Green – his way home was the same way as mine – When I left the prisoner he had a flag basket. The prisoner was wearing the coat produced when I left him. [Cross Examined] I had not my basket on Saturday I left it at Radwell – I was not drunk on Saturday night the 21st November. I remember falling down as I went down the road – I did not fall in the hedge. I don’t know which way you went I left you. This Deponent of Henry Smith sworn saith I keep the Folly Inn Clapham – I remember Saturday the 21st Nov. I saw the prisoner at my house about 9.30 he left a few minutes before 10. o’c pm Mr Bosworth’s turnip field is about a quarter of a mile from my house. On Sunday morning the 22nd I found a flag basket in my front garden and on Monday the 23rd Nov. I met the prisoner I said “George your basket is under the cart house” he said “all right” This Deponent of Joseph Pilgrim sworn saith I am a labourer living at Clapham – I remember the night of the 21st wit I saw the prisoner I passed him just opposite the Fox and Hounds public house about 3 minutes to 10.0c pm I said “Good Night Bill” he did not answer. When I last saw him he was going in the direction of his home. This Deponent of Robert Smith sworn saith I am a horse breaker living at Clapham on the night of 21st Nov I went home to Clapham from between eleven and twelve o’clock. I saw no one. I went in my house – about 5 minutes after I got home I came out again I heard someone coming down the hill from Clapham towards my house – I heard a stumbling noise and something fall down Mr Fortescue and I went on to the road and about 20 yards on the Clapham village side of my house I found the prisoner lying face downwards on the side of the road – I said “Get up you must not lie here on this wet grass” he said “ I was just having a sleep what did you wake me for” I said “get up” – I saw a sheep in the ditch about a yard from the prisoner feet – it was Teg – I said to the prisoner “here is a sheep here What’s that here” – he said “I don’t know anything about it” give it to me and I will take it home to my wife” I said “I think very likely it is one of Mr Belgrove’s sheep got out” I took the sheep and put it in Mr Belgrove’s field – about 5 or 10 minutes before I found the prisoner and the sheep I had passed by here – There was neither sheep nor man there then - After I took the sheep the prisoner went towards home – as I was taking the sheep to Mr Belgrove’s field I thought it was weak. This Deponent of William Abbot sworn I live at Clapham and am Shepherd to Mr Bosworth I have charge of some sheep on a turnip field between Clapham Folly and Clapham Village – The field adjoins the road – the fold on the 21st November was between 3 to 4 chain from the road –On the 20th November there were 101 – I left the fold at 5pm on the 21st November – Shortly after seven on Sunday the 22nd I went to the fold – I found a stake had been pulled out and thrown about a yard out in the field – On Tuesday the 24th I was present when my Master counted the sheep. This Deponent of John Belgrove I am a farmer living at Clapham – On Monday 23rd November a sheep in my field which did not belong to me – I noticed it had wool pulled out of its hind quarters and its bottom jaw hung down. This Deponent of Frederick George Bosworth sworn I live at Clapham and am a son of the prisoner I counted the sheep in the fold on the turnips near the Folly Wednesday the 18th There were 101 on Tuesday the 24th November I went with PC Barrett to Mr Belgrove’s field - I saw the a Teg sheep belonging to my father. I identify it by a brand on the side – it was alive when I first saw it – I noticed it’s jaw hung down – on the same afternoon I went to the fold – outside the fold I saw a piece of wool – and in the direction of Clapham from I found wool at intervals of 7 or 8 yards – The sheep was [stressed] I found that its jaw broken and had had a blow on its head – there are four fields counting the sheep were in on the 21st November from the fold to Clapham fold to Clapham Green. There is a footpath from the field the sheep were in to Clapham Green. This Deponent of John Bosworth sworn I am a farmer living at Clapham I remember Sunday 22nd November attention was called to a bunch of wool hanging on some bushes in my field – the footpath runs within about 3 yards of the bushes it was Teg wool – I had no Teg in that field - I noticed later the same afternoon by the side of the same footpath – similar wool – a few handfuls – There was no wool in this place the day before – On Tuesday the 24th November I counted my sheep there were 100. Later the same day I saw a sheep in Mr Belgrove’s field – it was my sheep – On Wed. 25th November I went to the fold and I walked from the fold towards Clapham Green - I found small particles of wool from the fold to the footpath in the first field from the field in which the fold was in, I found wool on the path and hanging on the hedge – I noticed a footmark where the wool was In the next field I found more wool of the same description - In the fourth field just over the stile between the 3rd and 4th field I found more wool I saw the sheep after it was [dressed] both paws were broken – bruised on the back and had a blow on the head – The value of the sheep was 35/- The distance of the fold on the 21st November to cross the four fields. I have spoken of to Mr Robert-Smiths is about 47 chain. [Cross Examined] I do not think a man could carry a sheep 47 chain without resting. [Re Examined] I noticed in the first field and also in the 2nd appearance as if the sheep had been put down. This Deponent of Frederick Barratt sworn – I am a Police Constable at Clapham – On Tuesday 24th I went to Mr Bosworth’s fold and walked by way of the footpath to Clapham Green. I produce some wool I took off the hedge in the field next that in which the fold was in. The same evening I arrested the prisoner I said “George I shall arrest you on the charge of stealing a sheep belonging to Mr John Bosworth he replied “I know nothing about the sheep” I afterwards went to the prisoner’s house and obtained a coat which I now produce. [Cross examined by prisoner] The wool was in the coat when I had it from your house.

11 pages

item

Barker, George,
Smith, Henry,
Pilgrim, Joseph,
Smith, Robert,
Abbott, William,
Belgrove, John,
Bosworth, Frederick George,
Bosworth, John,
Barrett, Frederick

stealing, police constables, farmers, shepherds, Clapham Green