QSR1883/3/5/2-4

Depositions of Hannah Millard, wife of John, of Shillington, Pamela Brown, a minor of Shillington, Caroline Cooper, wife of William of Shitlington, Thomas Morris, licensed victualler of Shillington, William Waller, brickmaker of Shitlington and George Damiel, police sergeant of Shillington. In the case of Charles Lupko, Paul Villeneuve & Hans Gehrmann accused of breaking and entering a dwelling house and stealing bread and mutton.

3 June 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

Hannah Millard: wife of John a gardener who was employed by John Didwell. They resided at Holwell Bury in Shitlington, in the lodge on the highway between Shefford and Hitchin. The adjoining cottage was occupied by Cooper. On 3 June the whole family left the house at 5.30pm to go to Holwell Church. The windows and doors of the house were shut and secured. They returned about 7.50pm and noticed the string to the pantry window was broken and there were sign that the window had been opened. The pantry was at the rear of the house and had contained an uncooked shoulder of mutton, 2 loaves of bread, some suet and a pound of cheese; these were missing. She was able to identify the goods when they were later produced. Pamela Brown: a single woman living with her father at the Dirt House public house. Their house was about a mile and a half from Millard’s house. On 3 June she was at home about 5.20pm and Charles Lupko came to the house and asked for a bite. She told him she had nothing to give him and he left. There were 2 others with him in the road. She recognized Hans Gehrmann but not the other man. Each man had a small parcel and they went off towards Shefford. Caroline Cooper: wife of William Cooper and lived at a cottage between Shefford and Hitchin near Henlow Station, but still in Shillington parish. On 3 June, about 5.40pm she was waling towards Hitchin with Mrs Ayres. Between Millard’s house and the Dirt house they met 3 respectfully dressed young men. They were strangers to her and each was carrying a parcel. Thomas Morris: keeper of the Bird in Hand on the Shefford to Hitchin Road. His house was about ¼ of a mile from Millards house. On 3 June about 6pm he was standing on the road opposite his house. He saw the 3 prisoners come along the road and go towards Shefford. They each had a bundle. He saw no other strangers go by except in carts. William Walter: a brickmaker living in Brick yard on the Shefford and Hitchin Road. On 3 June about 6.20pm he was standing at the Brickyard gate and saw the 3 prisoners pass. After the men had gone a short distance they sat by the side of the road and ate food. They moved on after about 10 minutes. He went down the road with his dog after they had moved on and saw some bread crumbs and pieces of cheese rind. His dog ate them up. George Daniels: a police sergeant stationed at Shefford. He went to the house of Millard and examined the premises, finding the pantry window broken. On 4 June he went to Bedford and found the 3 prisoners in a lane leading off the main road between Hitchin and Bedford. As he approached them the prisoner Villeneuve picked a bowl from the ground and threw it into a bed of nettles. The men were sitting on a rug on the grass and eating bread and meat, cooked on a small fire close to them. He took the fragments of food he found into his possession. He was unable to understand all they said to him when he charged them but understood they wished to convey they had bought the loaf and the meat from 2 men who looked like labourers. They were searched and said they had bought the items about 5 miles nearer Hitchin at a small brook where they had stopped to wash themselves. Statement of the accused: Charles Lupko – whilst on the road, about 5 miles from Bedford near some water, 2 fellows came up. One was short and the other tall and asked them for coppers. He said they had none and he showed them the bread and meat and asked if they wanted to give a shilling and 2 pence for it. The bought it and went on towards Bedford. They made afire and were ready to eat when the policeman came. Paul Villeneuve and Hans Gehrmann – “this is true”

11 pages

item

Lupko, Charles,
Villeneuve, Paul,
Gehrmann, Hans

SHILLINGTON, breaking & entering, bread, mutton, victuallers, brickmaker, Henlow Bird in Hand, Shillington Dirt House, opticians, millers, clerks, SHEFFORD, Hitchin, BEDFORD