PETERSFIELD
The Late Robbery of Poultry.—At the Magistrates’ Clerk’s Office, on Tuesday—before J. Waddington, Esq. —John Draper alias Bright was charged on remand, with receiving from George Tull, on Thursday, the 30 ult., three geese and three ducks, tho property of Mr. Alfred Colebrook, knowing the same to have been stolon. A lad named Richard Stevens, deposed: I live with my father and mother at Mr. Colebrook’s Cottage, near the Causeway. About 5 o’clock in the afternoon, on Thursday, the 30th January, I put the geese and ducks Into the hovel; there were three geese and four ducks. There was no lock to the door, but I fastened it with a chip. Sarah Stevens, mother of the last witness gave corroborative evidence. She went the next morning, about seven o’clock, to let the ducks and geese out of the hovel and found only one duck left. She could swear to the three live ducks now produced, and the three heads of geese were similar to those lost. She had had charge of them for several months. Richard Budd carrier to and from Portsmouth, deposed: On Thursday night, the 30th January, I left Petersfield about ten o’clock. I started from the ‟George,” where I saw the prisoner. I had no conversation with him. I saw him again just below the ‟Sun,” in Dragon-street; this was a little after ten. He was in the road, and he then told me was going to Portsmouth with me. I was in my cart, and stopped at the ‟Sun” to take up a parcel. When I got just this side of the brickfield, I saw the prisoner in the road just before the horse. I also saw another man, whom I found to be George Tull; he appeared to be close under the hedge. I saw Tull give a parcel to prisoner; it was in a sack. Prisoner put it into the forepart of my cart, and then got in himself, and went on. The parcel remained in the head of my cart for about half-an-hour, and then prisoner asked if I had any hampers. I said I had three on the tail rack, and then stopped and got down, and brought the hampers round to the front and put them into the cart. Prisoner then took the ducks and geese from the sack and put them into the hampers. I knew from the noise that they were ducks and geese, though I could not see them, as it was a very dark night and raining hard. I then put the three hampers on to the tail rack and fastened them with rope, and we went on to the ‟Green Posts,” near Hilsea, where we arrived about four o’clock in the morning. We stayed there about two hours, and then went on to Portsmouth, arriving there about nine o’clock. The prisoner asked me if I could tell him where he could sell the geese and ducks, and I mentioned Mrs. Terry, who keeps the Market House, in High-street. We went there, and I told Mrs. Terry there were some geese and ducks in my cart for sale. She looked at them, and agreed to give 4s. each for the geese, and 2s. each for the ducks. They were taken from the hampers, and I then saw there were three geese and three ducks. Prisoner was present the whole time. Mrs. Terry gave me two half-sovereigns, and I gave her in change a two-shilling piece, and then gave the two half-sovereigns to prisoner, who said he had no change, but would get some silver and pay me the two shillings. He has not yet done so, nor for his ride down. He then left me, and I have not seen him since until now. The sack now produced is the same as the birds were in. I brought it back to the ‟Green Posts,” and there gave it to Mr. Fey.—June Terry, a poulterer at Portsmouth, deposed: On Friday, the 31st ult., between 9 and 10 o’clock, Budd, the Petersfield carrier, with whom I have often had dealings, came to me and asked if I would buy some geese and ducks. I at first declined, but he said there were only three of each, and wished me to come and look at them. I did so, and agreed to buy the geese at 4s. each and the ducks at 2s. each, making 18s. together. I gave Budd two half sovereigns, and he gave me 2s. in change. Prisoner was standing at the back of the cart. The poultry were in hampers on the tail rack. My servant killed the geese, and soon afterwards Mr. Superintendent Fey came to me, and I gave the whole up to him; the ducks were still alive.—Superintendent Fey deposed that he went to Portsmouth on Friday morning, the 31st ult. He went to Peel’s beershop in Commercial-road, Landport, and found the prisoner there. He asked him where he got the geese and ducks he brought to Portsmouth that morning, and what he had done with them, and he said he knew nothing about any geese and ducks. He then charged him with receiving them, knowing them to have been stolen, and took him into custody. He afterwards went to Mrs Terry’s, and she gave him the three live ducks which he now produced, and three dead geese, the heads of which he also produced.— Prisoner, having been cautioned in the usual form, said, ‟All I have to say is that Tull came to me and asked me if I would take them to Portsmouth and sell them for him. I said, ‘I suppose you’ll not get me into any trouble.’ He said, ‘It’s all right; you will not get into any trouble at all.’ I am sorry I did it.” He was committed for trial at the ensuing Assizes.