QSR1852/1/5/9a

Depositions Charles Hervey Smith Esq. of Aspley Guise, William Ralph Young, superintendent of Police of Woburn and William Clay, police constable, of Aspley Guise. In the case of Henry Whitbread accused of stealing a sovereign and a five pound note.

27 November 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

Charles Hervey Smith: lived at Aspley House in Aspley Guise. The prisoner had been in his service for 5 years and was about 18 years old. On 26 November he put a £5 note in the desk in his parlour. The following morning, he went to pay a bill with it and missed it. A neighbour informed him the accused was spending beyond his means, which raised his suspicions. He advised the Superintendent of Police. The prisoner confessed in his presence to taking the note, and using a key from a clock case to open the desk. The note taken had been new and clean, and the accused also confessed to taking a sovereign. William Ralph Young: Superintendent of Police at Woburn. On 2 December he went to the prisoner and charged him with taking 4 sovereigns from the prosecutor. He denied this at first, but later said he had taken a sovereign and a half about 5 weeks previous. Asked how he had open the desk, the accused said eh had used the key of a clock. Young then charged him with taking the £5 note. Whitbread said he had not seen or taken a note. Whitbread left the room with Constable Clay but returned a few minutes later and Clay produced the £5 note and a sovereign. The prisoner said "I took 'em out of Masters Desk". Whitbread fetch the key he said he had used and it opened the desk. William Clay: accompanied Superintendent Young to the prosecutor’s house. Mr Young accused the prisoner of taking a sovereign. Clay took the accused into the hall and the prisoner told him he had taken a sovereign and a half. Whitbread said "I'm done now, do you think I shall get 12 months?" Clay told the Superintendent what had been said. The prisoner said he had better tell the truth and said he had taken the note and would fetch it. He had hidden it in the stable. It was found under a manger, in a box covered in dirt and straw. Inside the box was a note of the Bedford Bank and a sovereign. The prosecutor identified the note and sovereign.Statement of Henry Whitbread: nothing to say

item

Whitbread, Henry,
Smith, Charles Hervey,
Young, William Ralph,
Clay, William

ASPLEY GUISE, money, stealing