James Sainsbury

342

Maureen Withey on 4th December 2021

https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON18-1-14$init=CON18-1-14p62 Description of James Sainsbury. Age 32, Farm labourer, height 5 ft 10 ½. Native place , Salisbury.

342

Maureen Withey on 4th December 2021

Wilts Quarter Sessions. SHEEP STEALING. JAS. SAINSBURY, aged 59, JAS. younger aged ?1, and WM. SAINSBURY, aged 27, —father and sons— were indicted, the sons for stealing two sheep the property of Mr James Read, the elder, at Winterborne Earls; and the father, for receiving quantity of mutton knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. Slade appeared for the prosecution. The prisoners were undefended. It appeared that on the evening of the 21st of December, the shepherd left 220 sheep in the fold; that the following morning found the crib kicked about, the sheep very much frightened, and two ewes missing, that the son of the prosecutor afterwards traced the footmarks of two persons from the fold, across a turnip field, to to the Marlborough-road, and that he found two skins on the down, which were the skins of the stolen sheep; that he that he obtained a search warrant, and, accompanied by the constable, searched the house of the elder Sainsbury, and found there two shoulders, two legs, two breasts, and necks of mutton, which had been concealed in pan in the chimney corner, covered over by large heap of flint stones, a quantity of dirt, and board so firmly fastened that that it required the aid of an iron bar to remove it; that meat was subsequently compared with the skins which had been found, snd that it corresponded exactly. James Sainsbury, the younger, lived at Salisbury ; Wm. Sainsbury lived with his father, short distance from the prosecutor's farm ; and it further appeared, that their apprehension, the shoes of the sons were taken from their feet, and were compared with the tracks across the turnip field, by pressing the shoe upon the soil, which was soft, by the side of the marks, and that they corresponded; that also some particular marks on the shoes. It was also proved, that very early in the morning of the 22d Dec. noise was heard proceeding from the elder Sainsbury’s house—resembling the noise of chopping meat, and that it continued for an hour and half. The fact of there being the footsteps of two persons only from the fold across the turnip field; those footsteps being proved to be those of the sons, accounts for the father being merely indicted for receiving the mutton knowing it to have been stolen. In his defence, Wm. Sainsbury said knew nothing about the sheep; that he saw something in the hedge wrapt up in cloth, which he brought home, and discovered it was mutton; that he put it in the place where it was found; father knew nothing of the circumstance. James the younger said, that he never heard anything about it, until the constable came to his house; and that not finding anything, took his body. The father pleaded complete ignorance. William said, he did not care if was going over the water to-morrow. —that it was impossible live in a worse country; that had but 7s. week for himself and wife; that he had but one meal day; and could not have less go where he would. The Jury returned verdict of guilty against each of the prisoners. A former conviction was then proved against William; and in addressing him, the Chairman said, it was fortunate for him, that alteration had taken place in the law, or he would have been considered fit subject for execution. The Court would now pass upon him the severest sentence which the law allowed, that was—transportation for life. James, the younger, sentenced to 15 years transportation, and the father was sentenced to 12 months hard labour. Sheep-stealing has been a very common offence in the neighbourhood of Salisbury. As many as fifty six have been stolen in one night without detection; and it has been suspected that the house of James Sainsbury, the younger, has for some time been the receptacle of the stolen property to be sold in Salisbury. Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 10 Jan 1839.