Fence Breaking
22nd August 1862
Fence Breaking at Desborough—John Kendall, a middle-aged
man, of the above village, was charged with breaking a hurdle belonging
to Robert Kilburn,
on Friday, the 22nd instant, thereby doing damage to the amount of 9d.
—Mr. Rawlins was for the defence.
—Robert Kilburn, junior, said he was the son of the prosecutor, and
managed his farm. Between four and five in the morning of the day in
question he got up to look after the farm; lived about a hundred yards
from the farm-yard. When between the horse and rick-yards he heard a
crackling noise, and on making towards the place he saw defendant
breaking the hurdle. Saw him put several pieces of the broken wood under
his right arm and march away with it. Went up to him, stopped him, and
took away part of what he had. It was a five-barred hurdle, and he laid
the damage at 9d. The fence was placed to make up a breach in the hedge.
When the defendant broke the hurdle, and was going off with it, he said,
"Well, the wood does not belong to you, but to Mr. Hamborough."
—Fined 5s., damage 9d., and expenses 12s. 6d.
Northampton Mercury,
Saturday 30 August 1862
Note: The Robert Kilborn who was farming in Desborough at this time
had sons called James, Thomas and Joseph. None of the records I've found
so far refer to a son called Robert; possibly the eldest son was named
"Robert James" but known as "James".