QSR1841/2/5/16

Depositions and examination - Jane Sugars charged with stealing a loaf of bread

12 and 20 February 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

12 February ------------------- Samuel Gibbs of St John Bedford, baker - the previous night (February 11th) he went into a house which is part of the Workhouse at Goldington, leaving his bread waggon standing in the Lane. James Roberts called him and from what he said he went with him to Jane Sugars's father's house. He saw the father and his two daughters Jane and Sarah there. He asked them what they had done with his loaf. They each denied knowing anything of it. Roberts pointed to Jane Sugars and said "that's the person that taken the loaf and it's not there for I saw her throw it". Jane Sugars denied it. He came out, looked around the Sugars' garden and found the 4 lb loaf on the ice in a ditch adjoining the door of the house. The loaf belongs to his father John Gibbs. He knows it as he made it himself and had broken it from another loaf not 5 minutes before. He told Jane Sugars he would prosecute her. She denied all knowledge of the loaf. He had lost some loaves from his waggon at the same place on the previous Monday and on many previous occasions, so he took James Roberts with him to watch and concealed him in his waggon, covered over with some sacks. When he left the waggon to go into the house he had only the one 4 lb loaf left in the waggon. James Roberts of Canning Street, St Peter Bedford, painter - he went with Samuel Gibbs to Goldington and concealed himself in the bread waggon. While Gibbs was gone he saw the prisoner come to the waggon, put her hand in and take a loaf out. She went off with it and he jumped out of the waggon and followed her. He asked her what she had done with the loaf and said he knew who she was. She said she had not taken it. Before he got up to her he saw her throw the loaf away in the direction where it was found by Mr Gibbs. Before that he saw it under her arm. He informed Mr Gibbs and was present when he found the loaf ... [Response to the prisoner] He is sure it was she who took the loaf and that he saw her throw it away ... The prisoner's sister Sarah is not at all like her. When he followed her into her father's house her sister and father were sitting by the fire. Jane Sugars was never out of his sight from the time she took the loaf. Jane Sugars of Goldington, singlewoman - it was not her that took the loaf. She had gone into a neighbour's house who sells a few things to fetch a red herring. As she came back the young man came up to her. She stood in the yard and looked round to see who was coming. He came up to her and said "Ah, you'll do, I know you". She asked what he meant and he asked where the loaf was that she took out of Mr Gibb's waggon. She said she had not been near the waggon. He did not say to her that he saw the loaf in her arms or that she threw it into the ditch. She saw it thrown in herself while he was gone to call Mr Gibbs - she saw the person who took the loaf against the waggon. She stood in the yard about 5 yards off and saw the person take the loaf and throw it away. It was her own sister Sarah Sugars, a year and a half younger than she, who took it. 20 February ------------------- James Roberts of Canning Street, St Peter Bedford, painter [further information] - he is sure there was no other person about other than the prisoner when the loaf was taken. He knows both the prisoner and her sister. It was impossible that the prisoner's sister could have taken the loaf and got into the house and seated herself by the fire as he saw her. When the prisoner opened the door she said "Sarah - this young man says you have taken one of Mr Gibbs loaves". He denied this and said it was the prisoner. The sister Sarah said she knew nothing about it. Keziah Gaunt, wife of William Gaunt of Goldington - she knows Jane Sugars. She lives in the house adjoining her father's . She was standing at her own door in the evening of 11 February. She saw Jane Roberts [sic] go out of her father's door and turn the corner towards the place where Mr Gibbs' bread cart usually stands. Before this she went to the right towards the shop. She saw her return from the direction of the shop to her own door, but cannot say if she went in. Almost immediately afterwards she went towards Mr Gibbs's cart to the left from her father's door. She saw her return. She did not see anything in her hands, but she could have had something without her seeing. She saw no other woman pass her door or about. When she saw Jane Sugars returning towards her father's house she saw Roberts following her. She heard him call Mr Gibbs. It was impossible that the prisoner's sister or anyone else could have gone out of her father's house and returned without her knowing. She is sure Roberts caught up with Jane Sugars before she got into her father's house. She is sure it was Jane she saw followed by Roberts. She is in the habit of standing at her door to watch for her child. She was waiting for her child then. She was helping her clean her pattens. The place is so narrow it is not possible any person could have passed without her knowing. Sarah Sugars of Goldington, spinster - she was in her father's house and remembers Roberts and her sister coming about 6.15pm. She was sitting by the fire not very well. She went outside the door about 6pm or a quarter after. She went about 6 or 7 steps from the door, no further. She swears her sister did not take the loaf. She saw her sister go out and saw her return again. She saw her go to the shop and came back, and then round the corner of the house and come back again. When her sister came back the first time from the shop she was followed by Roberts. She does not know who took the loaf. William Sugars of Goldington, labourer - he has taken his oath that it was not Jane who took the loaf. Jane went to the shop for a herring. She came in and went out again and met her sister. Her sister came in, went into the pantry then sat down by the fire. Presently Jane and Roberts came into the house. When Jane returned from the shop she told her sister the person said she had got a loaf. Sarah was at that time sitting by the fire. He has no other reason for saying Jane did not take the loaf than that she was so quickly gone. She had nothing in her hands but the herring when she came in the door.

item

Sugars, Jane,
Gibbs, Samuel,
Roberts, James,
Gibbs, John,
Sugars, Sarah,
Sugars, William,
Gaunt, Keziah,
Gaunt, William

Bedford St.John, Bedford St.Peter, Bedford Canning Street, GOLDINGTON, stealing, bread, baker, painter