QSR1846/4/5/10-12

Depositions and examinations - George Barber, John Sullivan and George Smith, common tramps

14 August 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

Sarah Doughty of Thurleigh, wife of William – about 1pm on Wednesday 12 August she left her house at Thurleigh with the door fastened and went gleaning in the fields. She did not return home until after her husband. They discovered the house had been broken into and several things stolen (now produced). The shirt, waistcoat, small clothes, and leggings now worn by Barber belong to her husband. The jacket and trousers worn by Smith belong to her son, and she made them. The velveteen coat and handkerchief produced by the police constable belong to her husband, and the checked waistcoat produced by him belong to her son. Her son is only 14 years old. William Doughty of Thurleigh, labourer – he returned home from his work about 8pm and saw the window casement was taken out from the lower floor of the house. It lay by the side of the house with a poker beside it. He went in and found several things had been taken. All the things worn by the prisoners and produced by the police constable are his property. John Lunn, police constable – at Supt. Graham’s direction he went in search of the prisoners yesterday (13th) and found them in the street at Dean. He and his colleague John Griggs took them into custody. Barber had on the waistcoat, small clothes and leggings he now wears, and also the velveteen frock coat and handkerchief. Smith had the same jacket and trousers he now wears. He told them the charge and they admitted they were guilty. They said they had left Northampton Gaol last Monday, and that they had also been in Bedford Gaol, and it was their intention to get across the water for 21 years. William Byers Graham – on Thursday 13th he received the prisoners into his custody from PC Lunn. Sullivan was wearing the checked waistcoat now produced. They said they broke into the house with the poker which they left behind them. He asked Barber what business he followed. Barber said he had been living as he could for the last 10 years and had been in 11 gaols. They admitted taking the 2 aprons now produced from another place, and the handkerchief and poker from a third place. They stated their intention of breaking into the first house they found unoccupied. The prisoners made their statements voluntarily. George Barber, John Sullivan and George Smith - had nothing to say.

item

Barber, George,
Sullivan, John,
Smith, George,
Doughty, William,
Doughty, Sarah,
Lunn, John,
Graham, William Byers,
Griggs, John

THURLEIGH, DEAN, breaking & entering, stealing, clothing, shirt, waistcoat, coat, handkerchief, underwear, trousers, vagrancy, gleaning, police constable, police superintendent, imprisonment, transportation