Richard Rush

341

Maureen Withey on 4th September 2025

Essex Quarter Session. Conviction of a Gang of Sheep Stealers George Turvey, Frederick Turvey, William Gilby, Robert Ray, Richard Rush and William Oxon were indicted for stealing two sheep belonging to William Knightbridge at Great Warley, near Brentwood, Essex, England. Mr. Dowling opened the case and stated to the jury that the principal evidence to be addressed against the prisoners was that of an accomplice, Bruty, but it would be corroborated in every particular. John Bruty examined. I was a labourer and knew the prisoners. I was at the Bell Public House at Brentwood on the 26th August (1836). It was a Saturday night. The prisoners were there and we all went away together to get some rabbits. We went to Warley Common. Frederick and George said they would have a sheep. We drove the sheep against a gate by the Warley Barracks and George Turvey caught one and Frederick the other. The sheep were killed and one was skinned and the other partly. I pulled two bags out of my hat and Frederick and George Turvey put part of the carcase in one bag. They put the skin and fore-quarters of the one partly skinned into a privy (outside earth toilet) belonging to the hospital at the barracks. We then carried the bags down the common. Gilby and Rush remained on the common and I slept under a haystack. I went to the Bell the next morning where I met all the prisoners. We had mutton chops for breakfast. Some weeks after I told Mr. Knightbridge of what had happened. Mary Bean examined. I was barmaid at The Bell at Brentwood on the 26th August. I saw Bruty and all the prisoners there. They were drinking there and left together about half past ten o’clock. Thomas Knightbridge examined. I am the son of William Knightbridge. I have missed 7 of my father’s sheep and a lamb from Warley Common. They were marked by a notch in one ear and a piece off the other. I saw Bruty at The Greyhound Public House at Little Warley on the 3rd October. He called me out and said he knew the party who stole my father’s sheep 6 weeks ago. He said it was on a Saturday night. He said he knew where the skins were. I did not say anything for I thought it was not true. The next day I went to The Magpie Public House and saw two skins with the fore-part of a sheep attached to one of them. I knew the skins were those of sheep belonging to my father. I knew them by the marks on the ears. (They were here produced). I brought the Turveys from London. George Turvey said I hope master you won’t hurt us more than John Hammond. I went with C. Knightbridge to the privy at the barracks at Warley. I found there two sheep skins and a lamb skin. They were shown to the last witness and I have kept them ever since. Richard Clarke. I am constable of South Weald. The prisoner Gilby surrendered himself to me. He came to my house in my absence. I conversed with him and said what is this about sheep stealing? He said So help me God, mister, I know no more about that than you do, except on a Saturday night I, Rush, the two Turveys and others. I asked what others? I supposed he meant those accused of it. He said, yes. He then said we were at The Bell, Brentwood between 11 and 12 o’clock, as long as we could stay there. I said, as long as you could draw beer. He said, yes. He then said we then went and proposed to go to Warley Common to steal sheep. I said I don’t like that, but did go. When we got to Warley Common I was so infernally drunk. I laid down and went to sleep. We drove some sheep up but caught none. He (Gilby) said afterwards he was sorry for Rush for it was his first offence. Jobe Jagger. I am a tailor at Brentwood. I was on Warley Common about one o’clock on the morning of the 21st and met 8 men with white hats. They were similar to those worn by the prisoners. I saw Bruty afterwards and he said there were 7 of them after rabbits. Frederick Turvey in his defence said that the constable had offered Bruty £5 to peach. Witnesses, however, were called who denied it. Said it was stated that the sheep were never missed until Bruty informed Knightbridge of the robbery. Gilby said that on Wednesday week Bruty came to him whilst at work upon the Catholic Chapel at Brentwood and told him if he did not go away it would be a bad job for him. But he, the prisoner, being innocent did not leave and was apprehended on the following day. The other prisoners protested their innocence. A verdict of Guilty was reached. The Chairman, in passing sentence, observed that it was a fortunate thing for the neighbourhood that the prisoners had at last been made answerable to justice. They had had a fair trial and it was impossible to come to any other conclusion. A short time ago the conviction for that offence would have been attended with forfeiture of their lives, but a merciful Government had taken away that punishment and left another which it was imperative to on the Court to pass. They had no discretion and that sentence he must pass upon them. It was that they be transported for the term of their respective lives. Gilby replied, Is that all? They were then removed. The Chairman observing this was a blessing to the county to be relieved of such a gang as that. Report published in The Essex Standard 28 October 1836