QSR1865/3/5/21-22

Depositions of William Brimley, police constable of Houghton Regis. Ruth, wife of George Pratt, labourer of Houghton Regis. Joseph Tofield, farmer of Houghton Regis. In the case of Wiliam Harris and George Turvey accused of stealing 4 fowls valued at 8 shillings.

15 May 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

PC William Brimley: on the night of 11 May he was looking around Mr Tofield’s farm at Houghton Regis and went into a hovel in the yard and there saw the prisoner Harris and another man who he believed to be Turvey. They escaped. He found 4 dead but warm fowls in the hovel. The hens roosted on some boards laid across the rafters in the hovel. The fowls were lying on the straw below the rafters and the prisoners were up on the boards when he came in. He went to Harris’s house and took him into custody. On being told the charge the prisoner said he knew nothing of it. On 12 May he took Turvey into custody and on charging him Turvey said he knew nothing about it and he had been in bed about 10.30 that night. He had seen Turvey leave the Swan public house about 10.55 on the night of 11 May and Harris had left 5 minutes later. The Swan was opposite Tofield’s farm yard. Harris spoke to him when he came out of the Swan. He had no doubt that Turvey was the other man in the hen house. He had seen Harris jump down from where the fowls were when he got in. He found Harris’ clothes very wet when he took him into custody. Turvey’s clothes were not wet and had not expected them to be wet from the way in which he had run off. Ruth Pratt: wife of George and their house was at the back of Mr Tofield’s yard. A little after 11pm on 11 May she saw Harris standing at the end of the alley against her husband’s house. Turvey crossed the road from his own house and got up to where Harris was. She heard them say something and they both went up the alley in the direction of Tofield’s premises. She saw 2 men go into Mr Sharpe’s garden and there were some paling which people could get over into Tofield’s premises. She saw them go up the top of the garden and not come back again. She had stood by her door for an hour afterwards. She was sure the man with Harris was Turvey. Joseph Tofield: a farmer living in Houghton Regis. On the morning of 11 May his fowls were safe in his farm yard. The next day PC Brimley showed him 4 fowls. They were his property and worth 8 shillings. The hovel, where the fowls were kept was in an enclosed yard. Statement of the accused: William Harris – he was not guilty. George Turvey – not guilty.

item

Harris, William,
Turvey, George,
Brimley, William,
Pratt, George,
Pratt, Ruth,
Tofield, Joseph

HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, fowls, farmer