The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-12-19 00:00:00

STEALING FOWLS AT CHICKERELL.

On Wednesday morning, two men named Henry
Wood and Thomas Hill were cluurod at 11. M. Prison,
Dorchester, before Colonel R. H. Bingham, with
having stolen four fowls of the value of 125., the
property of Mr. John Laver, at Bast ChickereU, on
the lst of December. This case was beard at the
Prison, owing to the man Wood being already a
viscose in the gaol, awaiting trial on another charge.
P.O. Hansford, of the Weymouth Constabulary,
stated that he apprehended Wood on Friday last. On
Saturday the 9th, he went to fiteward's-oourt, %Vey.
mouth, to the bongs of a man named Pockett, and
found three of the fowls (produced). On Monday be TM
searching the house of a man named Medway, and one
fowl was handed to him as a stray one which hai
come there about a week ago, which he now produced.
He handed the fowls over to Sergeant Will. yester-
day afternoon, and when handing them over to Sent.
sant Will,, prisoner Wood said they belonged to Mr.
Layer. . . .

Sergeant Wills, stationed at Radipole, stated that
having received information from the Weymouth
Polio* that they had • number of fowls in their posses.
don, he accompanied the prosecutor to the Weymouth
Police-statioo, where Mr. Layer identified the four
fowls now produced as his waperty, and witness took:
possession of them. Wood he found in the custody
of the Weymouth Police • Hill was in his custody.
He charged them with stealing the fowls from Mr.
Laver. Wood sabl—" That's the fowls I took from ,
Mr. lAyeei, last Friday week, about six o'clock at ,
night; Hill went with me. I took six, one was •
cock, and one dint in the basket. Hill stopped under I
the wall while I went op after them, and bald the ,
batket that I pet them in." Witness said that Mr. I
Lover's fowl-house war hcked, and Wood .aid—" Oh,
I got in there then." Witness had since examined ,
the premises, and found that they were not locked that
night.. Hill said—" I went out with you; I did not
take the fowls ; I only held up the basket. You told
use you were going after then for your master, Mr.
Joe" (meaning Mr. Layer's son) ; "I only, seen four."
Wood said in answer to that—" I took air.'
Sidney Puckett stated he lived at 1. Steward's.
court. Weymouth, and was a butcher in Mr. Sanders'
employ. On the let of December Woods came to his
house about eight, and asked him to buy four fowls
which be said he had bought at Dorchester Market,
and he gave him Rt. 6d.,—• crown • couple. He had
four live fowls and one dead one. He questioned him
about the fowls, and prisoner said he would take his
dyhTeoath that be bought them at Dorchester. He
ban d them over to the police. Amongst what he
bought.were the three now produced. He only knew
primmer by name and by sight.
Col. Bingham: You must have known they were
not honestly obtoined. You mot be a fool if you are
not a rogue. You ought t 3 be standing there a• •
prisoner. You must have known he could not sell
them at hall-a.crown • couple if be had got them

honestly.
Mr. John Laver, • farmer, of East Chickerell,
&wooed that he kept a quantity 11 (ogle. lie went
VI the Weymouth Police-cation. yesterday. and saw
some (owls there, and amongst them four beloncing to
Win. Thaw now produce I were the same. Ile had
lost a quantity of fowls, 60 alto,retber. They were
worth 6e. • couple.
The primmer* were then committed for trial at the
next Quarter Sessions.