QSR1836/3/5/20

Depositions and examination - William Godfrey, charged with stealing a live fowl

6 June 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

William Mayling of Houghton Regis – he sleeps at Mr William Eames’ farm at Houghton Regis. Yesterday morning between 5 and 6am he got up. He went up the garden and looking across the close he saw 2 men. They came down to the corner of the close where he could not see them. He stepped up into a plum tree where he could see. He saw Mr Eames’ fowls running along the hedge side with the two men after them. The men began to pelt them and the fowls got into the hedge. One fowl ran across the corner and back again with them after it. They followed it 2 or 3 times and one of the stooped down and pulled it out of the hedge. He could see the fowl in his hand. He was 200 yards or more from them but one of them seemed to be killing the fowl on his knee. He went to the place but they were gone. He saw feathers and blood on the spot. William Godfrey was the man who pulled the fowl out of the hedge. The last he saw of them was that the man who seemed to have killed the fowl put it up the other man’s frock. John Holt of Houghton Regis – he sees Mr Eames’ fowls every morning. There were 5 fowls yesterday morning between 5 and 6am when he went after his cows. When he went to serve the fowls between 7 and 8am that morning there was one missing. He has not seen it since.

item

Godfrey, William,
Mayling, William,
Eames, William,
Holt, John

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing animals, fowls