QSR1898/2/5/5

Depositions of John Godman of Podington, Bedfordshire, Police Constable; Thomas Perkins of Wymington, Bedfordshire, Labourer. In the Case of John Beddall on the 15th December 1898 at Wymington in the said County feloniously did received one tame rabbit of the value of three shillings the property of one Thomas Perkins which had there lately before been feloniously stolen he the said John Beddall then well knowing the same to have been feloniously stolen.

25th February 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

This Deponent John Godman on his Oath saith as follows; _ I am a Police Constable stationed at Podington. On Tuesday December 14 last it was reported to me by Thomas Perkins, Labourer of Wymington that an outhouse of his had been broken into and 9 tame rabbits stolen. From enquiries which I made I found that Defendant had been offering 2 of the rabbits for sale. One he sold to [Henry/Harry Auqun] of Rushden, the other he took home to his wife. I called at Defendants home at Rushden and saw his wife. I received from her the skin produced. I afterwards obtained a warrant against the Defendant who had absconded. I apprehended him at Rushden on February 12. I [had] the warrant to him which charged him with stealing 2 tame Rabbits. I cautioned him and he afterwards made this statement “I did not steal the rabbits I knew they was stolen and drink was the cause of it all” I then brought him to Sharnbrook. Thomas Perkins on his Oath saith. I am a Labourer and live at Wymington. I keep Rabbits and on December 13 last I had eleven some of them Belgian Hares. I locked them up in one of my Barns. On the next morning where I went about 6.30 to the Barn I found the lock had been broken and nine of me Rabbits missing. I then gave information to the Police. The skin here produced is the skin of one of me missing Rabbits. Statement of Accused: I am guilty of receiving the rabbit, but I did not know it was stolen only I jumped at that conclusion when they said if you find a customer ask him to do away with the skin.

3 pages

item

Godman, John,
Perkins, Thomas,
Beddall, John

PODINGTON, WYMINGTON, police constable, labourer, rabbits, receiving stolen goods