Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions
January,  1842.

Fowl Stealing at Desborough.

THOMAS LONG was indicted for stealing five fowls, and RD. BUSWELL was charged with receiving them, knowing them to have been stolen.

Mr. Miller appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Flood for the defence of Buswell.

Elizabeth Ann Ward, the daughter of the prosecutor, stated that her father kept fowls, of which she had the care. On the 18th December she found five fowls lying dead in the roost and stable adjoining. About ten others were missing.

Charles Johnson, a man who had been employed by prosecutor, stated that he and the prisoner Long had permission to sleep in the barn; and on one occasion Long remarked to him that the fowls were very nice ones, and might be taken away without Mr. Ward missing them, and that he could easily get rid of them. On the night of the 17th Long did not sleep there, and witness was aroused in the night be the fluttering of the fowls. He got up, and looking through a pitchhole, saw Long going from the fowl house. When Long was taken into custody his hands and clothes were covered with blood and feathers.

The case against Buswell was that he was seen in a close with a bag near a pond in which the fowls were found. The bag appeared to be full when he was in the field, and it was empty when he was afterwards met with it. It was also stained with blood, although not fresh blood.

Buswell stated that he had been to a place called Dobhill, for some barley, which was found to be the fact.

Mr. Flood addressed the jury for the defence, and called a farmer named Kilborn, of Desborough, who gave him a good character. Of Long, he said that his character was neither very good nor very bad; he had the misfortune of being a poor shabby fellow.

Mr. Higgins, the constable of Rowell, also gave Buswell a good character.

The jury found Long Guilty, but acquitted Buswell. The former was sentenced to Twelve Months' Hard Labour.

Northampton Mercury, Saturday 15 January 1842