QSR1864/1/5/20

Depositions of Henry Hughes, master of the Woburn Union Workshouse. In the case of James Gates accused of stealing 6 cotton shirts, 4 pairs of stockings, 4 neckerchiefs and sundry other articles of clothing.

11 December 1863

From: 1863 To: 1864

Henry Hughes: on 22 November 1862 the prisoner was an inmate of the workhouse chargeable to the parish of Chalgrave. He saw the prisoner in the yard between 4pm and 6pm and on going through to his room afterward he missed him and another inmate, John Stapleton. He also missed 6 shorts, 4 pairs of stockings, and 4 neckerchiefs from the beds of several of the inmates occupying the same room and the prisoner and Stapleton. He made a search and found footmarks where he believed the prisoner and Stapleton had got over the workhouse wall and escaped. The value of the items was 16 Shillings. The prisoner also took with him a short pair of stockings, neckerchief and suit of clothes supplied for his use by the Guardians of the Union. The shirts were numbered and the property of the Guardians of the said Union. He believed the prisoner had been wearing the no.10 shirt. After the prisoner and Stapleton absconded the Superintendent of Police showed him a shirt marked 48, which he believed to be one of the missing shirts. He obtained a warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner for the felony the assizes held in March. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Gates, James,
Hughes, Henry

WOBURN, Poor Law Union Workhouses, stealing, clothing