William Williams and the Missing Christmas Day Goose!
In 1845
William Williams a 37-year-old brickies labourer was charged with theft for
stealing a goose, the property of hairdresser, Alfred Cooper. Williams saw the
goose being cooked at Birrell’s bakery on Rundle Street. He decided he would like to eat it and stole
it.
He then
took it to the house of Henry Brooks, a bricklayer. The men and some friends
dined on the goose. Cooper, missing his prized goose, suspected that Williams
may have stolen it. He arrived at Brooks's house and caught the men eating it,
then went to find a police officer. Williams
knew he was in trouble, and asked Brooks for a loan of 5s 6d. – enough to pay
for the goose.
The South
Australian newspaper reported that Cooper “came in and saw his goose in the
hands of the Philistines. He then got a policeman, who took Williams into
custody”.[1]
Williams offered the money he had borrowed from Brooks for a goose, but Cooper declined,
and Williams was arrested and taken to the police station where he was
committed for trial.
At court
the following day Birrell was asked to give testimony. He stated that on
Christmas Day Williams came into his shop and asked for a light for his pipe.
He went through the shop into the kitchen to get a light. On his way there, he passed through a small room where he saw Birrell’s wife stuffing a goose. Williams stated he would like to dine on the goose, as he was, ‘out for a
spree’. The goose was taken into the kitchen to be baked. Williams left
Birrell’s and went to the adjoining house, owned by Brooks.
Mrs Cooper came to the shop to get her
cooked Christmas goose but returned home without it. So, Mr Cooper and his wife went to Birrell’s to find their goose. They then stopped at Brooks's house
and witnessed Williams and other men eating a goose.
The men dining denied stealing the
goose, but after Cooper called the police, Brooks and his wife admitted that
Williams had brought the goose to their house. Williams had then offered Cooper
double the value of the goose so he would not press charges against him.
James
Birrell, the baker, stated to the court that Cooper came to his house seeking a Christmas
goose but got none. He told Cooper there were more geese than one -"two
gooses" - and that Williams had taken one away on a plate; leaving the tin
in which it was brought behind. There was nothing else missing but the goose.
Williams and Brooks came in together whilst he was drawing the baking, and
saying the goose was what he wanted, it was handed up to him.
Henry
Brooks stated to the court that he went to Birrell's for his dinner and was followed
by Williams. He assisted Mr Birrell in taking out the dinners, and when he left
with his dinner Williams had left the shop. Afterwards, Williams came to his
house with a goose on a plate and stated he had bought it overnight for six
shillings. They ate the goose together. When Cooper came with the police, Williams
called him into the next room, told him he had got into trouble about goose stealing,
and borrowed some money from him to try to arrange payment for the goose and
avoid gaol. Instead, he was then taken to the station-house.
Ellen
Birrell, wife of Mr Birrell, deposed that Williams asked for one of the two
geese, and took one away. A girl came and fetched the other goose. When the
police arrived, she recalled Williams saying to Cooper, “I will pay you any
amount you like rather than go the office.”
The Defence argues that there had been no
proof that the prisoner had taken, nor stolen the goose. Identification of the
thief was insufficient. The defence
continues, ‘Mr Birrell had stated there were ‘two gooses’ at most it was only a
"spree" and having seen Mrs Cooper stuffing a goose, he perhaps
thought he might as well stuff it too, only in a different manner; he was sorry
Mr Cooper should have been prevented dining off the goose, and also that he
should have been such a goose us to lose it: it was at most only a case for the
Resident Magistrate.
Mr Cooper then argued that if Mr
Fisher, the defence lawyer had lost his Christmas dinner, just as it was
cooked, and he was ready to eat it, he would not have made so light of it.
Mr Fisher then replied, “By no means!
he was sorry for both him and Mrs Cooper; and would further say that if she
could dress geese as well as he could hairs, they must be a very clever couple.
The Magistrate said, he feared it would
prove a serious "spree" for Williams, as he should commit him to take
his trial, though he would admit him to bail.[2]
On Monday, March 9, 1846, Mr Williams faced
trial for ‘Stealing a ready cooked goose, value 5s., the property of Alfred
Cooper, on 25th December 1845, at Adelaide.” A handwritten note on the side of
the record indicates that Williams was found Not Guilty.[3]
© 2024
Allen Tiller
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