A Sheepish tale of a Sheepist

I have no idea if this guy is related to our Vincent clan or not but this story had me laughing – what a good tale!

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.