Sheep stealing in Bower Chalke
Location: Bower Chalke, Wiltshire, England
Surnames/tags: Golden Lush
Sheep Stolen and Butchered in Bower Chalke
The victim:
The accused:
Turned Queen’s evidence:
Witnesses:
“The Salisbury and Winchester Journal”. 11 October 1862 page 7[1]
SHEEP STEALING John Lush, James Golden, and Charles Penny, were brought up on remand, at the Magistrates" Clerk's Ofice, on Thursday last, before Lord Folkestone, charged with stealing a sheep, the pro-perty of John Stone, a butcher, residing at Broad Chalke, on Satur-day, 4th of October.
Lush and Goiden are labourers, residing at Bower Chalke and Penny keeps a lodging-house there. A cousin of Lush’s, James Lush, was also implicated in the matter, but as he gave important in-formation, he was now admitted as Queen's evidence.
John Stone examined—1 am a butcher residing at Broad Chalke. I had seven sheep in a field at Bower Chalke on Thursday, the 2nd inst. On Saturday evening my son saw the sheep all right. On Sun-day evening I found that there was one missing. It was not taken away by my orders. I saw blood in the field, as if a sheep had been killed there. I have seen the skin and flesh of a sheep shown me by P.C. Morgan, and can swear that the skin came off the carcass produced. . I traced footmarks from the field in which the sheep were to the hedge in which the skin was found. From these marks I had a suspicion of James Lush as they led in the direction of his house. It was a Leicester ewe sheep that was stolen, and to the best of my knowledge there were no Leicester sheep in the neighbourhood for many miles round.
Morgan Bracher-I am a farmer at Bower Chalke. On Saturday evening I saw seven sheep belonging to Mr. Stone in the field. On Sunday evening there was one missing.
P. C. Morgan -From information I received I went to a field at Bower Chalke on Monday morning. There was a quantity of blood about as though a sheep had been slaughtered. I traced footmarks to a hedge about 600 yards away, and there I found a sheep skin with part of the entrails wrapped up in it, and also three sheep's feet. From there I traced footmarks which led into the road nearly opposite Penny's house. I searched Penny's house in company with Superintendent Matthews and Sergeant Potto on Monday morning. Before the door was opened I looked through the window, and saw Penny go to the cupboard, take something out, which appeared to be cooked meat, and go towards the back of the premises.
Sergeant Potto - On Monday morning last I went to Mr. Bracher's field at Bower Chalke and counted six sheep in it. There was some blood about. I saw footmarks, and they led me to the spot where the skin was found, and from thence in the direction of James Lush's house. All the prisoners live handy to each other. I assisted in searching Penny's house. In the cupboard I found about 2lbs. of mutton fat in a pan. In a wash-tub in a back room I found a portion of a sheep's head, which had been boiled, and was quite fresh. I searched the bedroom, and found a butcher's knife concealed under a bos, with some fat on the blade. I also found the pair of trousers which I now produce. They have blood on each knee.
Mr. Superintendent Matthews-On Monday morning, in company with Potto and Morgan, about nine o'clock, I went to search Penny's house I found it locked, and remained there till twelve o'clock, when Penny, who had been out, came back. He had to get through one of the windows to let us in, as he said the key was lost. It was about ten minutes before he opened the door. While waiting, I looked through the window, and saw him take something from the cupboard which appeared to me to be meat, and go towards the back of the house with it. When he let us in I told him i had come to search his house for some mutton, as a sheep had been stolen, and he replied that he had no mutton in his house. I afterwards went up stairs, and in the bedroom Sergeant Potto showed me a pair of trousers with some blood on the knees, and a knife. I asked Penny if that was his bedroom, and he said it was. I then examined the ceiling, and over the door if the bedroom I observed a small trap-door. I procured a candle, and then got up, and there I saw, between the cell-ing and the roof of the house, two fore-quarters. two targets, and two hind-quarters of mutton. I then apprehended Penny, and he said he knew nothing about it, and did not steal it: it was Jack Lush brought it there. I brought him to Fisherton Anger, and when he saw Lush in the station-house. he said to him, "Well Jack, thee can'st clear me of this, thee know'st I did not steal it." Lush did not answer. I then said to Lush, “Penny states that you brought the meat to his house: is that so Penny?” Penny replied that it was ; but Lush did not answer. On Tuesday evening I again went to Penny's house, and made a further search. In an out-house I found a sharp axe, on the blade and handle of which there was mutton fat and blood. I also found a piece of thick wood which had blood and fat upon it, and appeared as though it had been recently used in chopping meat. I produce them. I then went to the house of Wm. Reid, at Bower Chalke, where the prisoner, John Lush, has his clothes washed and takes his meals. I asked Mrs. Reid for the clothes John Lush wore on Saturday evening last. She handed me a pair of trousers and a shirt, which I now produce. The wristband of the shirt is covered with blood, and there is also a great deal of blood on the front of the trousers, but it has been smeared over with dirt to hide it. I then went to Golden's house, and assisted in apprehending him, and bringing him to Salisbury. On visiting Penny in the cell that night, I told him that we had brought in Golden on the same charge, and he replied, " Well, you have all now; but who told you about he?"
Cross-examined by Penny—I am positive we were kept waiting ten minutes at the door.
Thomas Stone examined-I am a brother of John Stone, and have been a butcher all my life till within the last three years. I have compared the carcase with the skin, and I find them to correspond. It does not appear to have been exactly skinned by a butcher, but it is very well done. It is not the first that has been skinned by the same hand. The carcase, skin, and feet are those of a Leicester sheep, of which breed I am sure there is not another within ten miles of the spot.
Inspector North examined-On Monday morning I apprehended John Lush in Salisbury, and charged him with stealing a sheep be-longing to Mr John Stone, of Broad Chalke. He made no reply. On arriving at the station I searched him, and found marks of blood on the front flap of his coat. The sleeves of his coat were wet. and appeared to have been recently washed. I took off his boots, and carried them to Bower Chalke, where I was shown some footmarks. There were two tracks, and on comparing the boots with one of them I found them to correspond. I made an impression in the ground alongside the footmark with the boot, and compared the two. They corresponded exactly, especially about the toe. I traced the footmarks in the direction of Penny's house. On Tuesdar evening I apprehended James Golden at his house, and charged him with stealing a sheep. I asked him where the shirt was that he wore on the Saturday night. He said, "Up-stairs," and a woman who was nursing his wife gave me the one I now produce. I asked him if that was the shirt he had on on Saturday, and he replied that it was. On the back part of the right shoulder there is a large stain of blood, as though he had carried something. I asked him if he wore a coat on Saturday night, and he said he did. On searching under a table I found the [smudged] which I now produce. On the back there is a large stain of blood which appears to have been washed in cold water. I then left the house with him, but returned again, and found a pair of boots, which I now produce. I asked him if they were his, and he at first said they were not, but afterwards he said they were. On the following morning I compared them with the other of the two traces of foot-marks, and found them to correspond.
Mary Reid said—On Saturday night James Lush came to my house to change his clothes. I wash his linen for him, and he has his meals at my house. He changed his boots then, and on the Sunday morn-ing, about nine o'clock, he came and changed his shirt and trousers They had spots of fresh blood on them. I gave them to Mr. Mat-thes on Tuesday.
Isaac Habgood-My mother keeps a beer-house at Bower Chalke On Saturday night last, about half-past 10 or 11 o'clock, John and James Lush passed me close by our house. They said, “Good night" to me. They were going in the direction of the field from which the sheep was stolen. They had previously been drinking, in company with James Golden, in my mother's tap-room.
James Lush was next sworn, Mr. Matthews remarking that he did not prefer any charge against the man but would admit him as a witness. He said-I live at Bower Chalke. I was in Mrs. Habgood's drinking on Saturday night last. John Lush and James Golden were there. We all left at shutting up time. I went towards home, and the other two went in the direction of Mr. Bracher's fieid. Soon after John Lush came to me and said some one wanted to speak to me. I ent back with him, passing Mrs. Habgood's on the road. I went as far as the cross roads, and there I found James Golden. I was then asked to go along with them, but I refused. They soid they were going to have something before they went home, and Lush said to me "Come on." On my again refusing, Golden said, “Well, let him please himself." I then left them there, and went home. The spot where we were talking was not more than 40 yards from Mr. Bracher's field. John Lush wore a coat, and Golden a smock.
This was the case for the prosecution. The usual caution was then given to the prisoners, and on their refusing to say anything, Lord Folkestone committed them for trial at the next quarter sessions for the county. An application on the part of Penny for bail was refused.
Lord FOLKESTONE paid a high compliment to the superintendent of police, Mr. Matthews, for the energy and skill he had displayed in the getting up of a most difficult case.”
Sources
- Login to edit this profile and add images.
- Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
- Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)