QSR1833/1/5/12

Depositions of John Cooper, hair dresser of Dunstable. James Higgs, shoemaker of Dunstable. Robert Fowles, constable of Dunstable. William Muckleston of Harlington. John Carr of Flitton. In the case of John Allen, otherwise John Deacon, accused of stealing fowls.

2 November 1832

From: 1832 To: 1833

John Cooper: on Wednesday afternoon he saw the prisoners and another man run by his house in West Street, Dunstable. The prisoner had 2 fowls in his hands and was going towards Totternhoe but then turned into a field at the back of the town. About 10 minutes later he heard that they were taken but they had not got the fowls. He went in the direction he had seen them run and about 200 yards from the road he found 3 fowls lying in a ditch covered over with long grass. He took the fowls to Mr Fowles, the constable, who said he could swear to the speckled one. James Higgs: on Wednesday afternoon he was at the Black Horse at Dunstable and saw the prisoner take the fowls off the table and run away. He heard which way he went and ran in that direction to meet him. He did meet with him with another man in the fields at the back of town and took them into custody. Robert Fowles: on Wednesday afternoon eh was at the White Horse in Dunstable and inconsequence of hearing that a man was offering fowls for sale at a very suspicious price he found the prisoner there and offered was offered 2 fowls at a shilling a piece. He asked there the fowls came from and was told Brickhill. He took the man into the marker and asked the farmers there if they had lost any fowls or if any of them knew the prisoner, who had given his name as ‘Deacon’. There were several people from Brickhill and they said they did not know the prisoner. He took the prisoner to the Black Horse and laid the fowls on the table and while he went to the door to speak to Mr Gutteridge, the prisoner ran away with the fowls. The prisoner ran up West Street. On being asked where he had the fowls from the prisoner said he bought them from Thomas Lovell and that Lovell had told him that he lived at Brickhill. William Muckleston: the name of the prisoner was John Allen and he had known him for some years. He had never heard the prisoner called ‘Deacon’. The prisoner resided at Eversholt. John Carr: he went to his henhouse on the morning of 2 November and found the lock of the door broken. He missed about 20 fowls and could swear to the 5 fowls now produced. His servant had locked the door of the henhouse on the Tuesday night.

item

Allen, John,
Cooper, John,
Higgs, James,
Fowles, Robert,
Muckleston, William,
Carr, John

DUNSTABLE, stealing, fowls, hairdresser, shoemaker, FLITTON, HARLINGTON, EVERSHOLT, BRICKHILL, Dunstable White Horse, Dunstable Black Horse