QSR1897/2/5/5

Depositions of George Swales, John Newell, John Thompson and Joseph Howe. In the case of John Draper, accused of stealing 6 live, tame fowls.

6 April 1897

From: 1897 To: 1897

George Swales: a publican of The Plough Inn, Bolnhurst. On Friday 26th March about 7pm he shut his fowls up in the hen house. He had about 25 fowls in total. On the following morning about 7.30am he let the fowls out though did not then notice how many where present. He fed the fowls at midday and found that 6 were missing; 2 hens and 4 pullets. On the following Monday he informed the police constable Howe that he was missing the fowls. On Thursday 1st April John Newell came to his inn for a pint of beer and overheard him asking a man if a fox had been at his fowls as he had found 2 in a field. Mr. Newell then left the inn and returned with 2 dead fowls, which he then identified as his own. He then went with Mr. Newell to the field where they found 4 more dead fowls which again he identified as those which had been missing. The fowls had been killed by having their necks pulled. John Newell: a labourer of Bolnhurst. On Wednesday 31st March he was walking across a field in Bolnhurst where he found 2 dead fowls. The next day he was told by Mr. Swales that he had lost some fowls. He fetched the 2 fowls from the field to show to Mr. Swales who identified them as his. He then went with Mr. Swales to the field and found 4 more dead fowls by the hedge which Mr. Swales also identified. John Thompson: a labour of Colmworth. The prisoner came to his house on Saturday 27th March about 6.30cm and asked him if he wanted to buy any fowls. He replied that he didn’t but the prisoner asked him to come along with him to have a look. He went with the prisoner outside and saw 6 dead fowls. He prisoner said that he could have them for a bob a piece. He refused and told the prisoner to take the fowls off his premises. The prisoner took the fowls away across the fields towards Bolnhurst. He had seen the prisoner before and knew his name and that he lived in Bolnhurst. [Cross-Examined by Prisoner] When the prisoner came to his house he was dressed as he was in the court room. He didn’t know how the prisoner carried the fowls away. He saw the prisoner lift the fowls with his hands but did not see how the prisoner held them. The prisoner was in the habit of coming to Colmworth looking for work. The prisoner had not been to his house for 2 months before 27th March and he has had no quarrel with the prisoner. Joseph Howe: a police constable stationed at Thurleigh. On Monday 29th March he received information from George Swales that he had lost 6 live fowls from his hen house on the night of Friday 26th March. On the following Friday he heard that some fowls had been found in a field between Colmworth and Bolnhurst. He visited the field and, going through several gaps in the hedges, found some feathers which belonged to the missing fowls. The feathers were found in a straight line from Mr. Thompson’s house. He visited Mr. Thompson and, upon information given, he returned to Bolnhurst where he took possession of the dead fowls. He then went in search of the prisoner. On the following morning he arrested the prisoner at his house in Bolnhurst and charged him with stealing the fowls. John Draper: “I will leave it until tomorrow”

item

Swales, George,
Newell, John,
Thompson, John,
Howe, Joseph,
Draper, John

COLMWORTH, BOLNHURST, police constable, publican, labourer, stealing, fowls