Newspaper Extract
Thomas Foster committed to York Castle
August 1847Thomas Foster (48) was charged with having, on the 26th of July last, at Whiston, feloniously stolen a mare, the property of William Catterall.
Mr. Overend was for the prosecution.
Mr. Price for the prisoner.
On the 26th of July last, the prosecutor, who is a farmer at Gilfit, in the parish of Whiston, 5 miles from Sheffield, had a mare, along with several others, in a field at Gilfit, which were seen safe the same evening at 6 o'clock.
On the following morning, however, when the prosecutor visited the animals, he found that one was missing. Being confident that the mare had been stolen, he gave information of the circumstance to the police authorities, and bills were issued offering a reward for the apprehension of the thief.
Nothing further respecting the mare was learnt at that time, but on the 31st of July, the prosecutor and his father-in-law were at Alfreton fair, in Lincolnshire. Whilst they were staying at the Castle Inn, at Alfreton, Mr. Robinson, the father-in-law, went into the yard of the inn, when he saw a man crossing the Market-place with his son-in-law's mare, which he led to a blacksmith's shop there situate.
Mr. Robinson immediately followed the man who had possession of the mare, and on coming up to him asked him if the mare was for sale, when he replied in the affirmative, saying he would take £23 for her.
During the time that they were talking together the prosecutor arrived, and immediately identified the mare as his property. He accused the prisoner of having stolen her, but he denied it, observing that he had bought her at Sheffield, at an auction sale, for £18.
His statement, however, was not believed, a police officer was sent for, and the prisoner was there and then taken into custody.
Mr. Price addressed the jury for the prisoner, and called a witness to prove that he saw him in treaty for the purchase of the horse with a man in the streets of Sheffield, on the 27th July.
Thomas Foster was convicted of horse stealing,and imprisoned for eighteen months at hard labour.
Source: Leeds Mercury 7th August, 1847
