JOHN VINCENT
From the Supplement to the Norfolk
Chronicle and Norwich
Gazette Saturday July 30, 1842
Norfolk Assizes
Monday July 25
Before Mr Baron Alderson
Sheep Stealing at Barford
John Vincent,
aged 20, and John Melton, aged 18, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging
them with having on the evening of the 27th of June last, stolen from a field
in Barford, four sheep, the property of John Leeder of Barford.
Mr Palmer
defended the prisoner Melton, and Mr W Cooper defended Vincent.
Mr Evans
stated the case for the prosecution, and called a number of witnesses, five of
whom proved that on the day above stated they saw the prisoner Vincent with
four sheep, on the road from Colton to Marlingford. The prosecutor, Mr Leeder,
proved with his shepherd, that the sheep had been stolen and identified them
when found. Several witnesses of the
rural police proved that they found the sheep in the possession of the
prisoners, having traced them by a circuitous route across the fields till found.
The following
are the facts of the case:‑ Mr Leeder's
shepherd missed the sheep about five o'clock in the morning after the robbery,
and gave information to the policeman Yorke, who with his shepherd traced the
footmarks of two men and four sheep from Mr Leeder's field, across a loosened
piece in Mr Leeder's occupation, to the turnpike road. They traced the footmarks of the four sheep
down the road about 20 yards. They then
traced the marks of the sheep and two men, following the sheep across Mr Hensley's
fresh rolled turnip field into a back lane to Colton.
They then traced the marks along a turning to the right, leading to Marlingford Bridge.
They traced the marks to three crossroads, and along a turning to the
right back to Barford. The policeman
Yorke and the shepherd found the sheep feeding on the road against the Bridge,
and Yorke going down the road saw Melton and Vincent driving the four
sheep. Yorke went up to the prisoners
and put his hand behind his back to pull out his handcuffs. Then Vincent ran one way and Melton
another. The former ran across the
meadows, followed close by Yorke, who, however, could not overtake the
prisoner, who crossed the river five times backwards and forwards, either wading
or swimming, still followed by Yorke.
The prisoner ran on till he got into a wheat field, where Yorke lost
sight of him. The shepherd, in the
meantime ran after Melton, who turned round and said "I have plenty of
evidence that I have now come from Barford". He, however, kept his distance, and the
shepherd could not catch him. The
prisoner Melton went off saying he would tell his father, living at Barford,
which it appeared he did. The father, as
was said, persuaded Melton to give himself up, and he did so at the Cock public‑house
Barford, to policeman Yorke, and was taken before Mr Cann, of Wymondham, about
four miles off. On the 4th July,
policemen Yorke and Futter received information that Vincent was in the
neighbourhood at Yarmouth; they went to Blofield, and found superintendent Smith;
they all three went to Yarmouth, and having made enquiries there, stopped there
all night. Smith knowing Mr Leathers'
gamekeeper at Herringfleet Hall, called on him and in answer to inquiries, the
gamekeeper said there was a strange man called Martin, who had been in the
neighbourhood of Fritton, in Suffolk, for about nine months. Hearing that a man
named Martin had absconded from Horningtoft, having escaped from the custody of
the parish constable who had apprehended him for stealing 17 geese about nine
months before, and knowing that this Martin had married the sheep stealer
Vincent's sister, the three police went to Fritton, in Suffolk, supposing that
Vincent might have taken refuge with his sister. They went to Mr Larkman's, a
farmer at Fritton, and made enquiries.
The gamekeeper said he understood there was a man named Martin, who had
been employed by Mr Larkman, the police then went with the gamekeeper to Mr
Larkman himself, & he said that he had employed a man named Martin, who had
been discharged for stealing eggs.
Policeman Futter asked whether Mr Larkman had seen any strange man with
Martin, and Mr Larkman said he had seen a strange man sitting with Martin on a
bank just past his gate; and Mr Larkman further described Vincent, saying, no
doubt that was the man the police were in search of. The gamekeeper was then sent by Smith to the
shepherd's house, to see who was there, with the pretence to know if anyone
wanted a job at haymaking. The
gamekeeper did so, and Martin said "Yes, we will be very glad of a
job". The gamekeeper said he did
not care if three or four of them came. The gamekeeper then went out of the
shepherd's cottage, which stands down in a kind of cave or hollow, the land
being above it, and beckoned Smith, who was standing near, with the other
police. Smith and the gamekeeper went to
the front of the cottage, Futter and
Yorke and Mr Larkman went to the back, Smith went through the house and collared
Martin in a shed, where he was making brooms.
Smith called Futter, who ran round to the front, went through the
kitchen into a little back place, where there was a plank up to the roof
covered with brooms; Futter saw Vincent getting through the roof at the gable
end, carrying in his haste some of the broom on the top of his head. Smith gave Martin in charge of Yorke and
pursued after Vincent through Mr Larkman's wheat field; here a regular chase
ensued, Vincent got a start of about 200
yards, but Smith gained upon him, and both, after running for some time, fell
together, when Futter coming up secured Vincent. In returning Futter said "Old fellow, I
have nail'd you at last, though I have had a great deal of trouble about you;
you are taken into custody for stealing Mr Leeder's four sheep at
Barford". Futter searched the
prisoner and found a purse upon him containing 9d, a knife and a comb; Futter
said to prisoner "Is this all the money you have got?" Prisoner said "Yes, it is ‑ if I had
more money I should have been out of this country, you would not have had me
for this job". The prisoner was taken before Mr Cann, of Wymondham, and
committed for trial.
Mr Palmer and
Mr W Cooper having addressed the Jury in defence, the Learned Judge summed up
the evidence commenting carefully as he proceeded.
The Jury,
having consulted, found both prisoners Guilty ‑ Sentence of each prisoner, 15
years' transportation beyond the seas.
