QSR1871/1/5/6

Depositions - John Burr of Wilshamstead charged with stealing one basket, 23 herrings, a cup and saucer from William Manton at Wilshamstead on 19 November 1870. Original complaint against John Burr and Henry Burr.

22 November 1870

From: 1870 To: 1871

William Manton of Clophill, gardener – he called at the Woolpack at Wilshamstead at about 8pm on 19 November . He left his basket in his cart outside. 23 herrings and a cup and saucer were in the basket. When he went out in about ¼ hour the basket was gone. He later met Henry Burr near the crossroad. PC Britchfield was with him and asked Burr what he had about him. Burr said he had nothing. Britchfield found 2 herrings in Burr’s pockets. They went to John Burr’s house where the policeman found his basket. John Burr came in. John Burr said he had 20 herrings. The policeman went upstairs and found 21 herrings and the cup and saucer. The herrings were the same sort he lost. James Britchfield, police constable – from information received from Mr Manton he went to Wilshamstead. Near the crossroads he met Henry Burr coming in the direction of John’s house. He searched him and found 2 herrings which Henry Burr said were all he had got. He then went to John Burr’s house with Manton. In a little room he saw a basket on the floor. John Burr came in just after he found it and asked what he was looking for. He said he was looking for some herrings and had found the basket. John Burr said they had no herrings there. He said he would go further. As he was going upstairs John Burr said there were one or two up there and he would fetch them down. He followed Burr upstairs and found 21 herrings. John Burr said they were his. He charged Burr with stealing them. Burr said there were some boys shouting “herrings”. They set the basket down and Burr picked it up and took it home. Burr said he did not know the boys. He charged Henry Burr with aiding his brother in stealing 23 herrings, the basket, cup and saucer. Henry Burr said he had not told his wife about the herrings or about being searched and had not taken them out of his pocket.

item

Burr, John,
Burr, Henry,
Manton, William,
Britchfield, James

WILSHAMSTEAD, CLOPHILL, stealing, herring, household goods, gardener, police constable, cart, Wilshamstead Woolpack