The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-13 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.)

Johu Holdforth and Thomas Williams were indicted for
stealing a bantam cock, on the Bth August, the property of
Richard Garton, of the parish of Wisley. •
Mr. GAZELEE stated the case for the prosecution. About six
o'clock in the morning of the day named, a man named Daw-
lings was looking out of his window, when he saw the pri-
soners and a female, the wife of Williams, driving up a lane
leading from the prosecutor's house, three fowls. He went
and gave information, upon which he and the prosecutor's son
followed, and overtook the prisoners on a common. On being
charged with the theft they denied it, and refused to return to
Mr. Garton's house, unless paid for their day's labour. They
went away,, and on searching near the place where Holdforth
was sitting, they found a canvas bag, containing a fowl partly
plucked, but still warm ; also a leg and shoulder of mutton.
They were subsequently taken into custody.
The prosecutor's son identified the fowl found, as being the
property of his father. Verdict—Guilty.
The prisoners were again indicted for stealing, on the 7th
of August, a wether sheep, valued 355., the property of John
Baker, sen., of Woking.
James Mentz was shepherd to Mr. Baker. On the 6th of
August he turned some sheep into a field, amongst which
were two stag-headed sheep, one of which he missed on the
following day. He was shown a skin in the evening, but he
could not swear it was that of the lost sheep.
John Mahon found the skin produced on Woking-common.
He took it home, from whence it was taken by a boy while he
was from home.

Arthur Baker went to the last witness's house, and took the
skin produced from there to Mr. Baker's.
_ _

Mr. George Baker deposed that the sheep-skin produced
belonged to a sheep which was the property of his father.
Their flock consisted of forty-four sheep, two of which were
stag-headed. The sheep which was stolen was a very parti.
cular one, and was termed a thick-chopped one.
James Dawlings repeated the evidence as to finding the
canvass-bag containing mutton. He found it in the furze, and
did not see it in the possession of either prisoner.
James Davis, a butcher, said he saw some mutton at the
committing Magistrate's house which was not cut up in a
business-like manner. He had fitted the mutton into the skin
produced, and ha had no doubt the meat was part of the
sheep. The leg wanted some of the sinews, which were
attached to the skin produced.
J. S. Cooke, a blacksmith, was acquainted with Holdforth,
who asked him in the beginning of June to make him a knife
of a peculiar description. There were several persons pre-
sent ; some one asked what he wanted it for ? He said he
wanted it to cut sheops' throats. Witness considered the
matter as a joke, and made the knife.
The prisoner's Counsel, Mr. CHAMBERS, on the part of
Williams contended, that there was no case against him. He
was not, in the evidence, at all connected with the sheep.
The CHAIRMAN summed up, and the jury, after a short con-
sultation, returned a verdict of guilty against the prisoner
Holdforth, and of acquittal for Williams.
The COURT then sentenced Holdforth to one day's impri-
sonment for the fowl stealing, and of transportation for life for
sheep stealing ; and of 6 months' imprisonment on Williams
for fowl stealing.