QSR1879/3/5/7

Depositions and examination - Thomas Whitbread of Eversholt, labourer, charged with stealing one silver watch , one albert chain and a locket (value 40s) from the person of George Clarke at Toddington on 23 June 1879

27 June 1879

From: 1879 To: 1879

George Clarke of Toddington, labourer – he knew Whitbread (who lives at Eversholt) by sight before 23 June. On that day at 11pm he was in the street in Toddington between the Sow and Pigs Public House and Emery’s shop. A man named Potts and another man were with him. Some Tingrith men passed him and he spoke to them. He said to Whitbread “Old Big Hat, when you come down our end I hope you will be a little more civil so that people may sleep”. He was alluding to a noise that Whitbread had made near his house on the previous night. Potts said “come on”. He turned round to do so and someone shoved him from behind. Whitbread was standing close just in front of him. Whitbread seized his watch chain and tore it and the watch and locket attached away from him. He collared Whitbread. The men with Whitbread told him to get farther away. He said “give me my watch before the policeman comes”. Whitbread did not reply. The policeman came up and he told him that Whitbread had his watch. He let go of Whitbread. Whitbread bolted and he lost sight of him. Shortly afterwards he was shown the watch by Selina Fields or Chance. [Cross-examined] He did not call Whitbread a B---r and he came up the road. He did not knock Whitbread’s hat off. Whitbread hit him and he hit Whitbread in the scuffle. Selina Chance of Toddington, singlewoman – on Monday 23 June she was in the street in Toddington about 11pm. She heard a row near the Sow and Pigs and went to see what was the matter. George Clarke was there and said he had lost his watch. She is sure he said “lost”. He also said that Whitbread had got it. Sergeant Quenby went for a lantern. She helped to look for it. She picked the watch up against John Odell’s corner close to where she had first seen them. There was no chain on the watch then. She gave it to George Clarke who said it was his. Henry Quenby, police sergeant stationed at Toddington – he was in Toddington and received information of this row. He found a crowd about 14 or 15 yards from Odell’s corner, near the Sow and Pigs. Clarke said “he has stole my watch”. Whitbread was in the crowd. Directly Clarke said this Whitbread bolted towards Odell’s Corner. He went after Whitbread and PC Busby stopped him close to the corner. He searched Whitbread but could not find a watch or chain on him. He obtained a lantern and they searched the road. Chance picked up the watch close to where Busby stopped Whitbread. Clarke identified it. He went back to where the crowd was and found the chain and locket on the ground. The ring that connects the chain to the watch was gone. He took Whitbread into custody and charged him. Whitbread said “I know nothing about it. I never touched the watch.” James Busby, police constable stationed at Hockliffe – as Sergeant Quenby got up to the crowd he heard someone say “you have got my watch”. He saw Whitbread come out of the crowd and make off down the road. He went after Whitbread and stopped him at the corner by Odell’s house about 15 to 20 yards from the crowd. Clarke came up saying “you have got my watch”. Whitbread shuffled into the road and tried to get away. He told Whitbread he would not let him go. Quenby searched Whitbread. They could not find a watch on him. A search was made in the road. Chance showed him where she had picked the watch up. It was within a yard or two of where he stopped Whitbread. Thomas Whitbread – he has nothing to say. Witnesses for the defence ---------------------------------- Richard Large of Eversholt, labourer – on 23 June he was with Whitbread in Toddington. As they were standing by the Bell Clarke came by and said “There are three fat headed B---s”. He said to Whitbread “come on, let’s have no row”. They went on to go home. Clarke said the same again. Whitbread went up to them and said “what do you mean”. Clarke said “anything you please”. Clarke then took Whitbread’s hat off. Whitbread tried to get it back and Clarke took his own off to stop Whitbread getting it. Clarke then struck Whitbread and they had a fight. He was close by and never saw anything of the watch until it was picked up. He heard Clarke say he had lost it, but he did not say anyone had got it or taken it then. He saw Sergeant Quenby come up. Just then Whitbread came out of the crowd towards him and said “have you got my hat Large?” He said he had not – he was at Odell’s corner. He heard Clarke say “I have lost my watch. That man’s got my watch” and Clarke ran after Whitbread. Frederick Brashier of Eversholt, labourer – he was with Whitbread and Large. Much of statement repeats Large’s. After the scuffle Clarke said he had lost his watch and that Whitbread had got it. Whitbread said he had not seen it. PS Quenby came up with two other policemen. One of them collared Whitbread just by the corner. He helped look for the watch.

item

Whitbread, Thomas,
Clarke, George,
Chance, Selina,
Fields, Selina,
Quenby, Henry,
Busby, James,
Odell, John,
Large, Richard,
Brashier, Frederick,
Emery,
Potts

TODDINGTON, EVERSHOLT, HOCKLIFFE, pickpocket, watches, jewellery, police sergeant, police constable, Toddington Sow and Pigs