QSR1855/3/5/9

Depositions of Thomas Sims, carpenter of Northill, Ann Sims, his wife, John Preston, gardener of Hatch, William Wagstaffe, gardener of Nothill and William Breakwell, police constable of Girtford. In the case of John Smith, labourer of Northill, accused of stealing 1 waistcoat, 1 cloak and 1 pair of trousers.

3 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

John Preston: a gardener living in Hatch in the parish of Northill. On 2 May he was at work on his land, about 30 yards from Thomas Sins house in Brook End, Northill. He heard a noise like breaking windows and looking up he saw a man in the act of getting in through a window. He ran to the window and looked in. He saw legs of a man going up the stairs. He called out several times to ask what he was after but he had no answer. He waited about a quarter of an hour at the window and then several men including William Wagstaffe came up. He told them what he had seen and he heard Wagstaff call out. Soon after, the prisoner came back through the window. He went and fetched PC Breakwell and the man was given into his custody. He had seen Thomas Sims and his wife leave the house about 1pm. William Wagstaffe: a gardener living at Brook End. He was at work in a field on 2 May and saw John Preston standing at Sims house. Preston beckoned to him and he went to him. Preston advised him there was someone in Sim’s house. He rattled the door, which was locked and called out. Someone inside answered. He then lifted up the window blind and saw the prisoner sitting in a chair downstairs. He told him to come out and he got out by the window. He collared the prisoner. Preston went for Breakwell and he kept the prisoner until he came. He handed the prisoner over. Nobody had been upstairs in the house between the prisoner coming out and Breakwell arriving. PC William Breakwell: on 2 May the prisoner was given into his custody on the charge of breaking into Sims house. He went upstairs and found the room in great confusion. The waistcoat was lying on the floor; the cloak was on the bed and the trousers hanging out of a chest. On bringing the prisoner to Biggleswade he asked what he would get for it. Ann Simms: she lived with her husband Thomas Sims a carpenter. On the afternoon of 2 May, at about 1pm, she and her husband left home and did not return until 8pm. When they left, she locked the door and gave the key to her husband. Nobody was in the house. Just before she had left the house she had been upstairs to dress and had left the waistcoat, cloak and trousers in the closet in the bedroom. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Smith, John,
Sims, Thomas,
Sims, Ann,
Preston, John,
Wagstaffe, William,
Breakwell, William

NORTHILL, stealing, waistcoat, cloak, trousers, breaking & entering, carpenter, gardener