QSR1868/1/5/11

Depositions of Edward Wildman, butcher of Barton in the Clay. John Hill, labourer of Barton in the Clay. George Armstrong, police constable of Barton in the Clay. In the case of George Worker & George Gutteridge accused of stealing a shirt, a handkerchief and a pair of shoes, together the valule of 13s 6d. George Worker pleaded 'Guilty' and was dealt with summarily. He was sentenced to one calendar month imprisonment with hard labour.

16 December 1867

From: 1867 To: 1868

Edward Wildman: he was a butcher at Barton. On 6 December 1867 he left his cart and horse outside the Carpenter’s Arms at Harlington. He had a parcel in the hind part of the cart with a woollen shirt and a pair of laced up shoes in a red and white handkerchief. When he was ready to start home he found the parcel had gone. He gave the information to the police as soon as he got to Barton. The same night PC Armstrong showed him the shirt. It was the one he lost and was worth 7 shillings. He knew it by 3 little holes in the sleeve. The handkerchief was also the one he had lost and was worth 6 shillings. It was marked E.W. The shoes were also his and worth 6 shillings. John Hill: on 6 December he was at Harlington with Edward Wildman. He saw the 2 prisoners there about 9am and they had nothing with them. He saw them again afterwards and they were coming from the direction of Wildman’s cart near the Carpenter’s Arms. They went into Worker’s house and came out with a bundle tied in a handkerchief like the one now produced. Gutteridge stood in the road and Worker fetched the parcel out of the house. PC George Armstrong: from information he received on 6 October he went in search of the prisoner and found them coming along the footpath leading from Harlington to Barton. He searched Worker and found the shirt under his coat. He showed it to Wildman who identified it as his. He went back to Barton with the prisoners and as they were going along Worker threw something down. A boy who was there, picked it up and gave it to him. It was the red handkerchief now produced. He took the prisoner into custody and charged them with stealing a shirt and handkerchief. The prisoner said it they knew nothing about them, and afterward said they found them coming along Harlington Bottom. After that they said they found them in Harlington. He charged the prisoners with stealing a pair of laced up boots at the same time. The prisoners said they knew nothing about them. Gutteridge said when they got over the first field coming from Harlington, Worker said he had a pair of shoes in the bundle and put them on. They were not large enough for him and Worker offered them to him but he refused them. Worker threw them over the hedge. From that Armstrong found the shoes. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Worker, George,
Gutteridge, George,
Wildman, Edward,
Hill, John,
Armstrong, George

Barton in the Clay, BARTON-LE-CLAY, stealing, butcher, stealing, clothing, shoes