QSR1832/3/5/13

Depositions of Charles Hallsworth, miller of Maulden. Mary Ann Hallsworth, daughter of Charles Hallsworth. John Smith, gardener of Maulden. John Sanders, clerk to Mr Green of Ampthill. Charles Goode of Ampthill. Christopher Cox, labourer of Maulden. In the case of John Cox accused of stealing a live turkey property of Charles Hallsworth.

23 April 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

Charles Hallworth: on the afternoon of Friday 20 April he missed a black hen turkey belonging to himself. He saw the same turkey in his farm yard about 10am that morning and in consequence of information received he applied to the magistrate for a search warrant to search the house where the prisoner John Cox lived. Mary Taylor Hallworth: on Friday about 1pm she went to see whether there were any eggs. She saw one turkey on the nest in Mr Lows meadow. She then went away and went home to dinner. She went again to look after the turkey and saw, in Mr Lows field about 4pm, that it was gone. She went home and told her mother. John Smith: the prisoner was a labourer at work with himself and his brother on Saturday 21 April. About 7am a conversation took place between himself and John Cox. Cox began the conversation saying that although Biggs (whom he supposed to mean the Duke of Bedford’s keeper) had taken his rabbits away he had something else as good for dinner. He asked Cox what it was and Cox said it was a hen, a turkey hen. He then asked Cox where he had lighted it off and Cox replied between his meadow and Butcher Lows in the quick a laying. Cox said he had fallen down and broken its neck and taken it to the plantation belonging to Mr Arnold of Maulden. Cox said he had picked it and at breakfast time he said he should fetch it home. John Sanders: clerk to Mr Green of Ampthill. In consequence of a search warrant being granted to search the house of Christopher Cox of Maulden, father of John Cox, he went on Saturday last in the company of Goode of Ampthill and Mr Hallworth to search the house of Christopher Cox. Upstairs in the left hand bedroom he found dead hen turkey picked. Goode was near him at the time and he gave it to him as constable. Soon after this happened, he examined John Smith of Maulden and in consequence of what he said he went in the company of Mr Hallworth to a plantation belonging to Mr Arnold of Maulden to search for feathers. They found a quantity of feather which he put in a handkerchief and tied them up. He delivered them to Charles Goode of Ampthill. Charles Goode: he went to search the house of Christopher Cox of Maulden with Mr Green’s clerk and Mr Hallworth. Sanders and himself went upstairs and in the left had bedroom found a dead turkey picked and the entrails. Under a piece of cloth nearby they found the turkey covered over. Sanders gave it to him. Soon afterwards Mr Sanders brought to him a quantity of feathers tied up. He apprehended the prisoner and the prisoner said he was glad Smith had told because it had cleared him father. Christopher Cox: his son John Cox lived with him and when he was at home would sleep in the left hand bedroom upstairs. He knew nothing about the turkey found in his house. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Cox, John,
Cox, Christopher,
Hallworth, Charles,
Hallworth, Mary Taylor,
Smith, John,
Sanders, John,
Goode, Charles,
Green,
Biggs,
Arnold

MAULDEN, AMPTHILL, stealing, Turkey, miller, gardener, clerk