Samuel Cutcher

343

Maureen Withey on 17th July 2025

SHEEP STEALING AT MONKS ELEIGH. Samuel Cutcher. 31, John Howe, 21, and John Radciffe32, were indicted for stealing a sheep, the property of William Raynham, of Monk Elelgh, farmer; and Sarah, wife of Samuel Cutcher, for receiving 6lbs, of mutton, part of the said sheep, well knowing the same to be stolen. Robert Raynham, son of the prosecutor, had counted his father's sheep on the evening of the 25th of January; on the following morning he missed  one, and found the skin, head, entrails, and feet of a sheep, on the further side  of it: the sheep appeared to have been stuck about 2 rods from the spot where he found the skin : he took the skin, and compared it with some mutton produced by his brother William: he was sure the skin was taken off the sheep he had missed.  Wm. Raynham, the younger, was a constable at Assington.   In consequence of some informatlon he had received, he went and searched Cutcher's house on the Saturday after the robbery, and found part of two legs of mutton. The mutton was uncooked and dirty, and appeared to have been badly flayed. On enquiring as to where the mutton came from, Cutcher said his wife had bought it at Lavenham. The wife was not  in the house then. She shortly after came in and said it was given to her by John Howe, the other prisoner, who brought it to her house on Friday, the 26th of January. On her saying that, the husband, who was present, never said anything. Witness saw Howe that same afternoon in custody. He brought Cutcher and Howe over on the following day to Bury Goal. As they were coming along they stopped at Cockfield King's Head, and Cutcher said he wished to speak to Howe alone. Witness consented to their speaking together, but that he should stand by and hear. Cutcher then said to Howe, You can can clear me of this charge if you think proper. Howe then told Cutcher that it was he, ( Howe), and Ratcliffe who went and stole Mr. Raynham's sheep. Witness then told the prisoners that he In, should take down what they had said on paper, which he did; and Cutcher said it was quite right, and signed it. That written statement he gave into Mr. Hallward's hands. one of the committing Magistrates. A long discussion took place respecting the right to produce this paper. Mr. Prendergast the Counsel for the prisoner Cutcher contending that verbal evidence ought not to be received whilst a written document to the same effect was alledged to be in existence. Mr. Gurdon for the prosecution contended that secondary parole evidence was good in law The Court appeared to be of opinion the document should be produced. The Rev. and  H. W. Hallward, the committing Magistrate was sworn, but he could not say what had become of the paper Raynham said he had put into his hands. He had a slight recollection of receiving some paper, but whether it was as signed by Cutcher or not he did not know. He supposed the paper must have been sent away with the other depositions. As no paper could be found the court resumed. William Raynham's evidence continued. Cozens, another constable, shortly afterwards gave into his custody the other prisoner Ratcliffe. In Ratcliffe's pocket some mutton bones were found, a cloth and one of his Pockets were very much stained with blood. A large knife was also found upon him. The mutton found at Cutcher's was given to Seaman a butcher. so Robert Cozens deposed deposed to searching Howe's house on of Saturday the 27th of January. When he entered, Howe's mother and a girl of the name of Ridley were there. A frying-pan was upon the fire with some mutton in it. Howe came in and witness enquired how he came by the mutton. The prisoner said that he had bought it. Howe's it, wife afterwards gave witness a pair of trowsers on which there were blood marks. Joseph Making was at Howe's house  when the search was made, and when they entered the house he saw the mother try to conceal some mutton. He said you need not try to conceal it, and they seemed alarmed and went in out lnto the yard. Robert Hicks Seaman, butcher, saw a sheep's skin and some mutton produced by young Mr Raynham, on Monday the 29th of January, and compared the mutton with the skin. Had no doubt the mutton and skin were from the same sheep, from the circumstance of a piece of fat being cut out of the hind part of the leg produced, which was left on the skin, and when they were put together they exactly fitted. The sheep had not been killed in a butcher like manner. Wm. Raynham, recalled. He received the skin from his  brother and took it to Seaman the Butcher, to be compared with the mutton. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against Cutcher and his wife, and also against Howe, but acquitted Ratcliffe.   ... Ipswich Journal,  Saturday 10 March 1838  Sentences were pronounced against John Howe, tried on Wednesday, for sheep-stealing; Ten Years’ Transportation. The same prisoner, for stealing a powder flask, was sentenced was sentenced to Seven Years’ transportation; total 17 years. Samuel Cutcher, in the same case, transportation for 14 years;  Suffolk Chronicle, 10 March 1838. Convicts.— On Thursday last, the following convicts were removed from our Goal to the Leviathan Hulk, Portsmouth, viz., George Ward. Robert Major, and Sami Wright. to be transported for life; John Howe, for 10 years, at the expiration 7 years more ; William Coal, 15 years; Samuel Cutcher, 14 years ; Robert Diking, years; James Rose, Peter Fulcher, and George Day, to transported years. Suffolk Chronicle, 7 April 1838.