QSR1848/3/5/21

Depositions and examination - John Whitbread charged with breaking and entering the house of Thomas Edwards and stealing one quartern loaf

22 May 1848

From: 1848 To: 1848

Thomas Edwards of Barton, victualler - on Friday night 20 May he locked up his cellar. At 4.45am the next morning he went to the cellar and found the shutter had been taken out into the yard and the pin laid underneath it. The door was wide open. He missed one 4 lb loaf. There was a great deal more bread in the cellar. The loaf he missed was a stale one which had been brought the day before to be exchanged for a new one. Last Wednesday week he head a noise in his barn. He ran out and he believes Whitbread to be the man. William Ward of Barton, labourer - on Friday night he was in the Coach and Horses public house at Baron with William Gudgin and John Whitbread. They left at about 12 when the house closed. They went a little way up the Luton road and came back into Barton. Gudgin left them. He and Whitbread then went down to Thomas Edwards’ house the Bull. Whitbread tried the door and could not undo it. He took down a shutter that was on top of the door, put down his arm and undid the door which was fastened with a hasp and pin. They both went into the house. He took a quartern loaf, looked round and saw some barrels, then then came out again. Whitbread and Gudgin told him they had been to Edwards’ house one night before and Edwards ran after them. They ate part of the loaf that night and part the next day. They hid the loaf under the hedge in one of Mr Heely’s closes. Part may still be there. Whitbread was with him all night. they slept in a stable near Mr Edwards. John Whitbread - on Wednesday night he did come out. He has nothing else to say.

item

Whitbread, John,
Edwards, Thomas,
Ward, William,
Gudgin, William

Barton, breaking & entering, stealing, bread, victualler, Barton-le-Clay Coach & Horses, Barton-le-Clay Bull