QSR1834/3/5/17

Depositions of Thomas Creamer, labourer of Milton Bryant. Richard Reddall the younger of Milton Bryant. Joel Bunker, victualler of Eversholt. In the case of Thomas Fasey accused of killing a lamb with intent to steal the carcase.

30 June 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

Thomas Creamer: he worked for Richard Reddall, farmer of Milton Bryant. On Saturday he went to his master’s field called the Meadow in Milton Bryant. There he found the head and skin of one of his master’s fat lambs. He told his master and his master told him he might have the head which was not separated from the skin. He skinned the head and knew the skin to be that of his master by the letter ‘R’ being branded on it. He took the head and skin to his house. He was washing the blood off the head when he found the point of a knife sticking in the neck bone. Richard Reddall the younger: on Friday night he saw his father’s lambs and ewes in the meadow and counted them twice. There was 43. On Saturday morning Creamer told him one his father’s lambs was killed. He went ot the meadow and saw the head and skin. He counted the ewes and lambs and found one lamb with a long tail was missing beside the one that was killed. His father had handbills printed offering a reward, Creamer gave him the point of the knife which he had found. He went to the public house at Eversholt, kept by Joel Bunker, and circulated the handbills. He saw a knife with the point off lying on the bench in his yard and asked him to let him have it as he thought he had the bit to match it. Bunker said he had lent the knife to Fasey on Friday night. He took the knife to his father and compare it with the point Creamer had found. They fitted. He had taken the head and skin to Creamer by his father’s desire. Joel Bunker: on Friday night he lent Thomas Fasey his knife. He was in the yard. He took the clasp knife out of his pocket and lent to Fasey. Next morning Fasey came to the house and returned the knife. He saw the point had broken off and asked Fasey how it was done. Fasey said by cutting a chunk of wood. The last witness asked him for the knife and he let him have it after he said the point of the knife had been found in a lambs head. Statement of the accused: he borrowed the knife and broke it by cutting a stick. He did not kill the lamb.

item

Fasey, Thomas,
Creamer, Thomas,
Reddall, Richard,
Bunker, Joel

Milton Bryant, stealing, lamb, victualler