QSR1839/1/5/22-23/a

Deposition of Thomas Bannister of Well Street in parish of St Paul Bedford, baker - William Frazer and Samuel Hedge, charged with stealing one quartern and four half quartern loaves of bread from Thomas Bannister.

26 November 1838

From: 1838 To: 1838

Thomas Bannister - William Frazer is his apprentice. Last Thursday evening he found some loaves of bread in a loft over a stable he uses as a pig sty. He recognised the bread as part of that which he had baked that morning. He suspected Frazer of robbing him so set William Pratt to watch. About quarter of an hour later Pratt called him and showed Frazer and Hedge as the persons who had taken the loaves away from the loft. While he went to fetch Mr Coombs the constable Frazer made his escape and he didn't see him again until last Saturday evening when he came to Bannister's house. He said he was sorry and admitted he had been taking bread for maybe two or three months. He also admitted taking flour, about two pecks a week. He had been taking it to Emma Hedge, sister of Samuel, who sold bread and flour for Bannister from her shop. Asked what she did with it, Frazer said she had it for her mother. Frazer said "I have half and Emma has half", which Bannister took to mean the value of the bread and flour taken. Emma Hedge is the daughter of Bannister's wife's sister, Mary Hedge, the wife of Reuben Hedge. Emma Hedge goes by the name of Emma Humphreys and has the name Humphreys written over the door - she is the illegitimate daughter of Mrs Hedge. Frazer has often taken her bread and flour to sell for him.

item

Frazer, William,
Hedge, Samuel,
Bannister, Thomas,
Pratt, William,
Hedge, Emma,
Humphreys, Emma,
Hedge, Mary,
Hedge, Reuben

stealing, bread, flour, baker, Bedford St.Paul, Bedford Well Street