QSR1833/3/5/8-9

Depositions of William Balls, labourer of Clifton. John Somerfield, labourer of Clifton. William Edwards, constable of Langford. Arch Green, yeoman of Clifton. In the case of George Sale and William Crosley accused of stealing an elm board and a live duck.

18 April 1833

From: 1833 To: 1833

William Balls: he was employed by Mr Arch Green as a field keeper upon his far. On Monday 15 April about 6pm he was standing by the side of the driftway which was about a furlong from Mr Green’s farming premises. He saw George Sale and William Crosley driving a duck before them belonging to Mr Green. At the time George Sale had something under is arm. 2 ducks belonging the Mr Green were in the habit of frequenting the pond by the driftway. In the road neat the pond there were some feathers as if a duck had been caught. The road was a footpath from Langford to Clifton. The duck left in the pond was uneasy as if it had just lost its partner. George Sale had the board which he now produced under his arm. Sale acknowledged he had taken it up at the end of Mr Green’s barn. John Somerfield: he was a farming labourer in the employment of Mr Arch Green. On Monday afternoon, between 4pm and 5pm, he saw his master’s 2 ducks, from the barn where he was thrashing, in a ditch close to the side of the barn and which ran into the pond by the side of the driftway. This was a footpath from Clifton to Langford in East Field. William Edwards: he was the constable of the parish of Langford. In the afternoon after the examination of George Sale and William Crosley he was decried by Mr Hall, the magistrate, to take the board, which bore the name of Arch Green. He was to pattern it with the board from which it had been separated by the sawyers. He did so and found the short board marked William Edwards in the cart hovel. It was upon Mr Green’s premises and adjoined the rick yard. Arch Green: he was sitting in the parlour when he saw the prisoners George Sale and William Crosley go past the house. It was about 6pm and they appeared to be going towards Langford where they lived. He had 2 ducks which frequented the pond in the driftway in East Field. He saw them on his farm on the Monday afternoon. When William Balls went to him about 6pm, one of the ducks had gone.

item

Sale, George,
Crosley, William,
Balls, William,
Somerfield, John,
Edward, William,
Green, Arch

CLIFTON, LANGFORD, yeoman, parish constable, stealing, elm, duck