QSR1895/2/5/1

Depositions of John Hannam, carpenter of Cardington, William Hartwell of Cople, Charles Stokes, labourer of Northill, Robert Gailer, police constable of Cardington and Ebenezer Cain, superintendent of police of Biggleswade. In the case of George Braybrooks, accused of stealing a bicycle.

1 March 1895

From: 1895 To: 1895

John Hannam: a carpenter living in Cardington. At 5pm on Tuesday 26th February, he had a bicycle in his shed. He found the bicycle missing at 4.30 on Wednesday 27th February. A bag containing an oil tin was attached to the bicycle. When he last saw the bicycle it had both pedals attached. William Hartwell: a resident of Cople. At 7.30am he saw the prisoner in his house with Mr. Hannam’s bicycle. He asked the prisoner where he had got the bicycle from and the prisoner replied that he had hired it for the night and was on route to Stondon. He knew the prisoner quite well. Charles Stokes: a labourer living in Northill. At 11am on 27th February he saw the prisoner with a bicycle and prisoner asked him if he was on the right road for Warden. He said yes and helped the prisoner lift the bicycle over a stile towards Sweet Briars Farm. Robert Gailer: a police constable stationed at Cardington. On 27th February he received information of the loss of a bicycle from Mr. Hannam. On 28th February he found the bicycle about 400 yards from Sweet Briars Farm and 400 yards from the stile mentioned by Charles Stokes. The bicycle was by the side of Sweet Briar Avenue covered in hedge trimmings and grass. He took the bicycle to Biggleswade. He found the prisoner in custody. The prisoner was shown the bicycle and asked by Superintendent Cain if he knew anything about it. The prisoner said ‘no, I never had a bicycle in my life’. The prisoner was then charged with stealing the bicycle. Ebenezer Cain: a superintendent of police stationed at Biggleswade. He received information of the loss of a bicycle. He went in search of the prisoner and found him at a public house in Biggleswade. He charged the prisoner with stealing a bicycle and took him to the police station. The prisoner was searched. The next morning, he found an oil can in the prisoner’s cell and questioned the prisoner. The prisoner replied that he did not know anything about it. On 28th February, police constable Gailer brought the bicycle to Biggleswade police station. He showed the bicycle to the prisoner and charged the prisoner with stealing this bicycle. The prisoner replied that he never had a bicycle in his life. The bicycle was missing a pedal. George Braybrooks: He was in Bedford all of Thursday night. He was chased by two police and caught when his boot fell off. He had a stick in his hand and the police tried to take it. The stick broke in two and he went off and waked all night with a boot missing. It was 12am when the policeman took the stick away.

item

Hannam, John,
Hartwell, William,
Stokes, Charles,
Gailer, Robert,
Cain, Ebenezer,
Braybrooks, George

CARDINGTON, COPLE, NORTHILL, BIGGLESWADE, stealing, bicycles