QSR1834/1/5/34

Brief for the prosecutor and statements of Peter Wilson, Charles Conquest, William Sharp, Samuel Lawford, Francis Field and John Pierson. In the case of John Lowen accused of poisoning fish.

24 August 1833

From: 1833 To: 1834

Brief for the prosecution: on Saturday 24 August the prisoner and 3 others were seen to walk up to an arch over the River Lea at Luton with something in his round frock. When they got to the arch the prisoner emptied his frock into the water above the mouth of the arch. When he turned round his frock appeared white. On the following Monday Wilson, the game keeper, went down to the arch and took up a quantity of lime from the rover and the bank. A very large quantity of trout and other fish were destroyed and afterwards hawked about the town for sale. 3 others were indicted at the same time as the prisoner but the bill was thrown out for them. Peter Wilson proves finding the lime in and about the river. Charles Conquest saw Lowen and others of to the river and Lowen empty his frock into the river. His frock was white. William Sharp corroborates Conquest. Samuel Lawford process the fish were lying dead in the water. Francis Field, the constable of Luton proves that at the last Quarter Session he had the lime analysed by Mr Palgrave of Bedford. He had received the lime from Peter Wilson the gamekeeper. John Pierson Palgrave stated that he analysed the line brought to him by Field and that it was lime.

item

Lowen, John,
Wilson, Peter,
Conquest, Charles,
Sharp, William,
Lawford, Samuel,
Field, Francis,
Palgrave, John Pierson

LUTON, River Lea, poison, fish, lime