George Abbott

110

Ron Garbutt on 7th July 2020

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 July 2020), October 1832, trial of GEORGE ABBOTT (t18321018-188). GEORGE ABBOTT, Theft > animal theft, 18th October 1832. 2395. GEORGE ABBOTT was indicted for stealing, on the 3rd of October , 3 heifers, price 30l. , the property of Robert Pocock . MR. LEE conducted the prosecution. ROBERT POCOCK. On the 1st of October I had three heifers at Smithfield; I did not sell them, and directed Harris to take them to Hendon, and bring them again on Friday - I saw them on Friday, at Laycock's, at Islington. RICHARD HARRIS . On Monday, the 1st of October, I was at Smithfield; Pocock gave me three heifers to take away, and on the 2nd I put them into Mr. Horn's field, at Hendon , and left them safe, between four and five o'clock in the afternoon - I did not see them again till I found them at Islington. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q. Are any of Horn's men here? A. No. JAMES HAWKES . I am a Policeman. On Wednesday, the 3rd of October, about one o'clock, I met the prisoner at Highbury, driving three beasts - I told him there was no thoroughfare for cattle through Highbury-park; he had another man with him - he told me he was going to Whitechapel-market with them, and had brought them from Mr. Matthews, the Bull and Butcher, at Whetstone; he said he was a stranger at the place, and the man at Holloway toll-gate directed him to go that way, as the nearest; he then asked the nearest way to Church-street, Stoke Newington - that would be out of his way to Whitechapel; I followed him to Islington station-house - I then took him into custody, and he there said several people at Islington knew him; he mentioned two persons, and I took him to Mr. Mason, a salesman, who said there was a Mr. Matthews, a butcher - I then took him to Mr. Stringfield, in Whitechapel market, who he said was his master, and when I got opposite the shop he ran away - I pursued, and took him; I left the cattle at Mr. Laycock's, at Islington, and was present at Hatton-garden when Pocock claimed them - the prisoner sent the other man back to the station-house, for something he said he had left there, and I never saw him afterwards; he said he had employed that man to help him, as the cattle were wild - the prisoner gave his name as Harris, but at Hatton-garden said it was Abbott. ROBERT POCOCK . I saw the heifers at Laycock's on Friday, and at Hatton-garden on the Tuesday. Prisoner. I was hired to drive the beasts. Five witnesses gave the prisoner a good character. GUILTY . Aged 30. - Transported for Life . https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18321018-188