QSR1852/1/5/9b

Depositions of John Parsons, Gaol Chief Warden of Bedford, Villiers Shallet Chernocke Smith, clerk of Husborne Crawley and William Clay, police constable, of Aspley Guise. In the case of Henry Whitbread accused of stealing 2 shirts.

15 December 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

Villiers Shallet Chernocke Smith: a curate of Husborne Crawley. He knew the prisoner well as he had been in the employment of his father at Aspley Guise for many years. Whilst living with his father in July, August and September, he missed several of his shirts. They were taken at different times. He missed 5 or 6 in total and suspected the accused as he had seen him with a shirt which he suspected to be one of his. On 10 December, Constable Clay came to the house with some articles supposed to have been stolen by the accused. He didn't recognise any of the articles but informed Clay of the lost shirts. Clay later returned with a shirt saying he had found it in the accused's box. He identified the shirt as his property. William Clay: on 2 December he had the prisoner in custody at Aspley Guise on the charge of stealing money from Charles Hervey Smith. He searched the prisoner’s box and found a shirt. He asked the prisoner if it was his and he said it was, and he had had it several months. Following information he took the shirt to VSC Smith who identified it as his property. John Parsons: Chief Warden at Bedford Gaol. The prisoner was delivered into his custody on 3 December. The shirt worn by the prisoner was marked with the name Villiers Smith.Statement of the accused: he took one shirt from the washerwoman at Crawley and the other when taking the linen to the washerwoman at Aspley.

item

Whitbread, Henry,
Parson, John,
Young, William Ralph,
Smith, Villiers Shallet Chernocke

HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, ASPLEY GUISE, BEDFORD, shirts, stealing, gaoler, curates, Bedford Gaol, washerwoman