QSR1881/1/5/3

Elizabeth Endersby, married woman of Clifton, William Henry Haynes, Inspector of Police, George Daniels, police sergeant of Shefford and Frederick Edwards, pawnbroker of Bedford. In the case of Herbert Clarence Percy Duroy [alias John Wright: Davis: William Burchell] accused of stealing a silver watch.

10 November 1880

From: 1880 To: 1881

Elizabeth Endersby: wife of William residing in Clifton. On 3 November she was in a neighbour’s house when the prisoner came to the door and said he had been recommended lodging there. Her neighbour could not accommodate him and recommend he stay with her. She left with the prisoner and showed him her house, and he selected a sitting house and a bedroom. He ordered dinner and a fire and then went out. He returned and some took water up to his room. He told her his name was Davis and he was clerk to lawyers in Oxford Street, London. He said he was down on business and would remain for about a month, or most likely until Christmas. He agreed to pay a guinea a week for board and lodging. When she took the water upstairs he came up for 3 or 4 minutes and then went down to the sitting room. He then said he had left is handkerchief in his room and went back upstairs. On returning down he said he was going to the Woolpack Inn to see if the beer was better than that he had with his dinner and he would be back for tea. He did not return and she did not see him again until he was in custody. Within an hour of his leaving she went into her bedroom and missed a sliver watch. She had seen it safe earlier that afternoon. Frederick Edwards: a pawnbroker at Bedford. The prisoner came to his shop on 4 November and asked to be lent 15 shillings upon a watch. He gave the name of William Burchell of Silver Street, Bedford and claimed the watch as his property. Edwards sent for the police and retained the watch. Duroy asked for the watch back and he refused to give it, saying he had suspicions. He left the shop before the police arrived. Inspector Haynes apprehended him further down the street. William Henry Haynes: on 4 November he went to Edward’s pawn shop and from information received then ran down Wellington Street and charged the prisoner with stealing the watch. He searched the prisoner at the station and found a quantity of tickets and other articles. The prisoner was handed to Sergeant Daniels and he told him his name was Herbert Clarence Percy Duroy but he refused to give his address as he said he belonged to a good family. George Daniels: Sergeant of Police at Shefford. He took receipt of the prisoner, the watch and other articles from inspector Haynes. He charged him and asked his name. The prisoner asked if he wanted his proper name and he gave the name Herbert Clarence Percy Duroy, but refused an address and he claimed to be respectably connected and he did not wish his friends to know. He said he was an actor. Statement of the accused: said he was guilty of the charge and he wished to make statements about other charges he had against him. They were not to go further back than 15 October 1880 and he wished to add that starvation was the reason he had done what he had. One fatal error had blighted prospects in his life and he had not been able to obtain an engagement. Having been parted with all he possessed in the world for food, he found himself on 15 October, utterly penniless and destitute and therefore resorted to despicable means to save himself from starvation.

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Duroy, Herbert Clarence Percy,
Haynes, William Henry,
Daniels, George,
Edwards, Frederick,
Endersby, Elizabeth,
Endersby, William

SHEFFORD, CLIFTON, pawnbroker, stealing, watches, lodging houses, comedian, Clifton Woolpack