John Daft

Level 347

Maureen Withey on 4th January 2026

Mare-stealing at Eagle. JOHN DAFT, aged 35, late of Eagle. miller, charged with stealing a mare, the property of Wm. Smith.—Richd. Johnson, servant to the prosecutor, (Mr. Smith, farmer  of Eagle,) proved that he locked the mare up safe on Fn«lly the 14th September, between 8 and 9 o'ciock ; there was also a bridle and circingle in the stable; when he went to look at it the next morning  it was gone together with the other things. He saw it no more   until his master brought it back some time after —Stephen Morriss is ostler at the Angel inn, Ferrybridge;  on Saturday the 15th of September saw prisoner at the bar leading a brown mare into the place, which he took to a beer shop kept by Nathan Ci...h, saw the same mare again this morning ?th March) in the possession of the prosecutor.—John Laithman is constable of Ferrybridge ; heard something about a mare on Sunday morning; went the following day to Cheeseman's and met prisoner crossing the road; they both went into the stable together to look at it ; asked prisoner if it was his;  he said it was; asked him if he would sell her, and he said he would, and added, she had been used to run in a gig, and  carry his father, but his father having died, left him the mare. Prisoner rode away about 2 o'clock ; soon afterwards, in consequence of information which he had received, he went in pursuit of him, apprehended him near Leeds, and took him to Leeds gaol ; prisoner gave his name as John Walker.  Witness asked him where the mare was, to which he answered Gone to h—ll, and you may go and seek her.’   Afterwards found the identical mare at the Old White Hart inn, Cow-lane, Leeds. Prosecutor arrived at Leeds on Thursday, and went with witness to the Old White Hart inn, and challenged the mare. They then went together to the gaol, and witness told prisoner that a person had come to swear to the mare. Prosecutor asked him how he came to steal his mare, and prisoner said he bought it at Retford. Witness then asked him how he came to say his father had left it him, when he saw him at Ferrybridge ; prisoner denied having said so.—William Smith, the prosecutor, a farmer, living at Eagle, having stated that he had a mare stolen on the 14th of September, which he saw again of the 20th at Leeds, corroborated the latter part of the last witnesses evidence.—The witnesses were all cross-examined by prisoner’s  counsel, Mr. Whitehurst. This closed the case for the prosecution, and the jury having found the prisoner Guilty, he was sentenced to be transported for life.  Drakard’s Stamford News, 15 March 1833. ----------------------------------------------------------- Absconded. Daft John, Lord Lyndock, 33-2198, 37, Lincolnshire, miller, 5 feet 5 inches, dark ruddy comp., brown and thin hair, grey eyes, lost three front upper teeth, scar side of neck, two scars back of left little finger, from J. Horsley, Liverpool, since September 16. NSW Govt. Gazette, 23 Sept 1835.