QSR1849/4/5/18/a

Depositions of William Byers Graham, police constable of Sharnbrook, Henry Corby, school master of Dean, Mary Smith, lacemaker, in the case of John Bettles accused of breaking and entering and stealing a watch chain, a razor and case, a lather box and a button hook.

15 October 1849

From: 1849 To: 1849

Henry Corby: went with his family to church and left his house shut up and locked. On his return he discovered the back door broken open. he missed a half pence and a farthing, 6 pence in silver and 3 pence in copper, a steel watch chain, a razor and its case, a lather box, a pocket book and button hook. All the drawers, which had been locked, had been forced open. Mary Smith: saw the accused in the garden of Mr Corby's house. William Byers Graham: went to Mr Corby's house and saw signs of the forced entry. he also saw several spots of blood about the place. The house had been ransacked. He went to the accused home at Dean. Bettles said he had not been near Henry Corby's house. Graham found him to have a cut forefinger and spots of blood on his clothes. Along with James Dunmore, Bettle's house was searched and items found, others were found near a tree. He took both of the accused shoes, and found them to match prints near the back door of Corby's house. Bettles said it was the first time he had done such a thing and would not have done so if he had not been drinking.Statement of the accused: "I did it."

item

Bettles, John,
Graham, William Byers,
Corby, Henry,
Smith, Mary,
Dunmore, James

breaking & entering, household goods, DEAN