Cambridge Independent Press 15 Jan 1848: Fowls stolen from Robert Emson
FOWL STEALING. — Wm. Gent (19), and Henry Emmings (19), charged with breaking and entering a hen-house at Trumpington, in the occupation of Robert Emson, and stealing five fowls. — Mr. NAYLOR, for the prosecution: Mr. TOZER, for the prisoners. — The prosecutor holds a farm in the parish of Trumpington, on the right hand side, near the turnpike, on the Hills-road. James Darler lives there as bailiff. The two prisoners reside at Cambridge. Between one and two in the morning of Tuesday, the 4th instant, James Darler heard a hen flutter in the hen-house. He and one of his sons (he has three) went down. There were two men standing in the yard. They ran away. Another man was coming down from the hen-house, creeping out at a hole the same way as he got in. It was made by breaking the boards, apparently with a fork. Young Darler apprehended the man that they saw coming from the hen-house. It proved to be Gent. Another of Darler’s sons, named Daniel, came out with a gun. He cried out to the two men who were running away, “Hollo - if you don’t stop I’ll shoot you.” They did not stop, and he shot and one of the men fell down. He got up, however, directly afterwards, and away they went, and threw fowls away as they ran. The gun was not loaded with a regular shot, but instead of them it was loaded with square little bits of lead, cut into pieces with a knife. The gun was kept loaded in consequence of previous alarms. The two men who ran away got clear off, but Gent being the only one of the three unlucky enough to be captured, thought he should like one of the others to share his lot; he, therefore, told the police that Emmings was one of the party. Emmings was consequently apprehended. Some wounds were found on his back. He was examined by Mr. Southee, surgeon to the police. There were six wounds in his back, and one in his neck; two pieces of lead were extracted, which were in shape and appearance like those that Daniel Darler had done in this instance. Emmings had suffered, or might have suffered, more punishment than the law awarded to his offence, supposing him to be guilty. He thought the jury would consider that the case had not been made out against Emmings. He called to the character of Emmings Mr. Aaron Payne, Mr. Robert Prees, and Mr. William Taylor. —The jury found both the prisoners Guilty, but recommended Emmings to mercy. Mr. NAYLOR, for the prosecutor, joined in the recommendation, and stated that Mr. Emson was not aware that the gun would have been used for such a purpose: Gent was to be imprisoned one year and kept to hard labour, and at the end of the term to 14 days’ solitary confinement; Emmings, nine months’ imprisonment and hard labour, and 14 days’ solitary confinement.