Fowl Stealing at Desborough.
—THOMAS LONG
was indicted for stealing five fowls, and
RD.
BUSWELL was charged with
receiving them, knowing them to have been stolen.
Mr. Miller appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Flood for the
defence of Buswell.
Elizabeth Ann
Ward, the daughter of the prosecutor, stated that her father kept
fowls, of which she had the care. On the 18th December she found five
fowls lying dead in the roost and stable adjoining. About ten others
were missing.
Charles Johnson, a man who had been employed by prosecutor, stated
that he and the prisoner Long had permission to sleep in the barn; and
on one occasion Long remarked to him that the fowls were very nice ones,
and might be taken away without Mr. Ward missing them, and that he could
easily get rid of them. On the night of the 17th Long did not sleep
there, and witness was aroused in the night be the fluttering of the
fowls. He got up, and looking through a pitchhole, saw Long going from
the fowl house. When Long was taken into custody his hands and clothes
were covered with blood and feathers.
The case against Buswell was that he was seen in a close with a bag
near a pond in which the fowls were found. The bag appeared to be full
when he was in the field, and it was empty when he was afterwards met
with it. It was also stained with blood, although not fresh blood.
Buswell stated that he had been to a place called Dobhill, for some
barley, which was found to be the fact.
Mr. Flood addressed the jury for the defence, and called a farmer
named Kilborn, of Desborough, who gave him a good character. Of Long, he
said that his character was neither very good nor very bad; he had the
misfortune of being a poor shabby fellow.
Mr. Higgins, the constable of Rowell, also gave Buswell a good
character.
The jury found Long Guilty, but acquitted Buswell. The former was
sentenced to Twelve Months' Hard Labour.
Northampton Mercury,
Saturday 15 January 1842