QSR1893/4/5/8a

Depositions of Emily Wright, William Noble, Shadrack Redwall and Charles Busby. In the case of George Braybrooks, accused of stealing a live duck.

27 September 1893

From: 1893 To: 1893

Emily Wright: Wife of Francis Charles Wright, an engine driver of Stotfold. On Tuesday 19th September she drove her two drakes into the pigsty at the back of her house. The pigsty is covered in and there is a wire gate inside and a wooden gate outside, both of which she fastened. The following morning of 20th September she went about 7.30 to let the two drakes out, however the door was open and one of the drakes was missing. The other drake was in the garden. She gave information to the police and on 21st September police constable Busby showed her a dead drake which she identified as her husband’s property. [Cross-Examined] She put the ducks safely away. William Noble: Police constable stationed at Ashwell. About 12pm on Wednesday 20th September he was on duty when he met the prisoner carrying something wrapped up in a handkerchief. He stopped the prisoner and asked him what he was carrying. The prisoner replied that it was a duck which he had bought for 3s from a man named Shadrack Redwall, a dealer in Hitchin, the day before. Upon suspicion he took the prisoner to the police station and detained him. [Cross-Examined] The prisoner was walking when he saw him. Shadrack Redwall: A dealer living in Gravenhurst. On Tuesday 19th September he attended Hitchin market where he saw the prisoner. The prisoner asked if he was going to treat him, but he replied that he could not afford to do so. He had never had any dealings with the prisoner. Charles Busby: Police constable stationed at Stotfold. On Wednesday 20th September for information received he went in search of the prisoner and arrested him at Royston Police Station on 21st September. He charged the prisoner with stealing a drake. The prisoner replied that nobody could prove that he had stolen the duck. George Braybrooks: I am not guilty of stealing that duck.

item

Wright, Emily,
Noble, William,
Redwall, Shadrack,
Busby, Charles,
Braybrooks, George

STOTFOLD, stealing, duck, police constable, dealer, Hitchin, GRAVENHURST