QSR1865/1/5/8-10

Depositions of William Clarke, farmer of Luton. William Evans, labourer of Luton. Eliza Hill, wife of William of Model Farm, Luton. George Smith, sergeant of police of Luton. George James, police constable of Luton. In the case of Joshua Martin, Henry Allen and William Bull, othewise Simpson, accused of stealing 3 turkeys and a fowl.

19 December 1864

From: 1864 To: 1865

William Clarke: he was a farmer and holder of the Brache Farm and the Model Farm in Luton. The 2 prisoners, Martin and Allen, were in his employment as shepherds up to 11 December. Martin had been with him for 20 years and Allen for a few months. On the night of Sunday 11 December he missed 3 turkeys from the Brache farm. He saw them the next day at the police station. On Monday 12 December he missed a hen. He saw where one had been killed at Model Farm. He believed the hen produced to be his property. The turkeys were worth 10 shillings each and the hen was worth a shilling. William Evans: he was a labourer in the employ of William Clarke at the Brache Farm. He looked after the turkeys and about 5pm on Sunday 11 December there had been 18 in one place and 8 in another. About 9pm that night he missed 3. The turkeys produced were the ones he missed. The next day he saw the turkeys at the police station. One of them was alive and was lame. It had been lame for a long time. Eliza Hill: wife of William Hill and they lived at Model Farm. She kept poultry there. On Monday 12 December she missed a hen from the farm. On 14 December PC James showed her a hen. It was Mr Clarke’s property. Sergeant George Smith: on 11 December he went with PC James towards the Windmill public house and they met the prisoners in Pondwick Lane near to Crawley Green Road. He took hold of Martin and he had a bag on his bag on his back containing 2 turkeys, one of which was alive. On 12 December he showed them to Mr Clarke who identified them. He charged Martina and Martin replied he had not stolen them. PC George James: about 7.30pm on 11 December he was in the company of Sergeant Smith. They met the 3 prisoners and he assisted Smith hold Simpson, otherwise Bull. They found the hen in one of Simpson’s pockets and he was charged with its theft. He afterwards took Allen into custody and charged him with stealing the 3 turkeys and the fowl. Allen said he had nothing to do with the other men. Statement of the accused: Martin - nothing Allen - nothing Simpson – when he met Mr Martin he had a bag on his back and he asked him what he had in it. He had met him at Crawley green Road. Martin asked him to help him carry them and he did so. He was given 2 to carry but he did not know what they were. “They was a big ‘un and a little ‘un”.

item

Martin, Joshua,
Allen, Henry,
Bull, William,
Simpson, William

LUTON, stealing, turkeys, fowl, Luton Model Farm, Luton Brache Farm, farmer, shepherd, Luton Crawley Green Road