QSR1863/1/5/14

Depositions of William Bray of licensed hawker of Clifton. Reuben Pepper, police constable of Shefford. George Prior of Southill, police constable. In the case of Charles Devereux accused of stealing 13 pairs of stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, 5 handkerchiefs, 4 dozen pieces of tape and a hair brush.

5 November 1862

From: 1862 To: 1863

William Bray: on Saturday 1 November he had his cart with some goods at Campton. He left it in the street with the bulk of the goods. He was close by at the White Hart doing business. He had been in the house 5 minutes when he came out and found that his cart had been robbed. He could not then tell exactly what was missing. Charles Devereux was in the White Hart and went in and out several times. He suspected Devereux and sent for PC Pepper. When Pepper came they searched about and found the bad containing hardware and cutlery hidden in the hedge between the White Hart and Devereux’s house. They went to the prisoner’s house and found in it 13 pairs of stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, 5 handkerchiefs, 4 dozen pieces of tape and a hair brush. The articles found were worth about a pound and the hardware and cutlery about another pound. He knew all the things to be his and most of them had his private mark. PC Reuben Pepper: he went to the White Hart and then with Bray to Devereux’s house. At first Devereux said he did not have Bray’s goods in the house but that they were welcome to search. They did search. Devereux’s wife took a candle and went upstairs and unlocked at box in her bedroom. He took out the stockings, shoes, tapes, handkerchiefs and in another room he found the brush. PC George Prior: he went with Pepper to Devereux’s house and was with him whilst Pepper searched upstairs. The prisoner said to Bray that he had taken things from the cart and that he was a damned fool for doing it. Devereux hoped Bray would overlook it. They took the prisoner into custody and as they were going along he heard Devereux say he had hidden the bag in the hedge. Statement of the accused: he was guilty and could say no more.

item

Devereux, Charles,
Bray, William,
Pepper, Reuben,
Prior, George

SOUTHILL, CLIFTON, SHEFFORD, Campton White Hart, stealing, stockings, handkerchief, shoes, licensed hawker