QSR1833/1/5/20

Depositions of George Garratt, yeoman of Moggerhanger. Charles Allen, poulterer of Bedford. William Brown, cabinet maker of Bedford. Ann Haines. In the case of John Inskip accused of stealing 2 live tame ducks and a drake.

27 December 1832

From: 1832 To: 1833

George Garratt: he lived at Moggerhanger and kept ducks and drakes. On 22 December he missed 2 ducks and a drake from the outhouse adjoining the cottage which his mother occupied. He suspected the prisoner of having stolen them and went to Potton market on Saturday but did not find the,. He went to Bedford on Monday and enquired of Mr Bracken if he had bought any live ducks, Bracken said he had not. He went to Me Allen, a poulterer at Bedford and made the same enquiry. Allen told him he had 5 live ducks and a drake offered to him the Saturday before by the prisoner but he had not bought them and said Mr Brown, a cabinet maker, ha bought 2 ducks and a drake. He went to Mr Brown and he confirmed he had bought 2 ducks and a drake that were in his pond. He saw them and claimed them as his property. Charles Allen: a poulterer by trade and he lived at Bedford. On 22 December the prisoner offered him 2 ducks and a drake for sale. As they were bargaining Mr Brown came by. He had been in the habit of selling poultry to Mr Brown and asked him if he wanted any ducks. Brown said he did and he recommended the Brown that he pay no more than 22 pence a piece for the ducks. He went away and heard that Brown gad bought the ducks, offered to him by the prisoner, for 22 pence a piece. The ducks produced were the same as offered to him. William Brown: he was a cabinet maker at Bedford. On 22 December he met Allen, the poulterer at Bedford. Allen, Longston the butcher and the prisoner were talking together and Allen asked him if he wanted to buy any live ducks. He said he did and Allen said the prisoner had some for sale and would take 22 pence a piece for them. Being in the habit of buying live and dead poultry from Allen for his own use and consumption, he bought them at 22 pence a piece. The prisoner brought them to his house and left them in the yard and he paid the prisoner. Mr Garratt who he had never seen before, came to his house accompanied by a man names Pignion, who he had met before, and asked if he had bought and ducks. He said he had and Mr Garratt said eh could swear to the ducks and the drake. He locked the ducks in his chamber and they had been in his possession since. Ann Haines: she lived with her father next door to a cottage in the occupation of Mrs Garratt. She had the care of Mr Garratt’s ducks in is absence and she had the key to the outhouse. When she locked up every night for 9 weeks. On the Saturday she went to unlock the door and found it unhinged and the ducks gone. She saw footmarks I the hovel. The ducks produced were the same ducks.

item

Garratt, George,
Allen, Charles,
Brown, William,
Haines, Ann,
Inskip, John,
Longston

Moggerhanger, BEDFORD, stealing, ducks, yeoman, poulterer, cabinet maker