QSR1868/3/5/10

Depositions of Rebecca Shelley, single woman of Ampthill. William Hillyard, police sergeant stationed at Ampthill. In the case of Francis Wolfburgh accused of stealing a silver watch.

24 June 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

Rebecca Shelley: she was a single woman living in Ampthill with Mrs Mary Read, a widow. She knew nothing of the prisoner. The silver watch produced was Mrs Read’s property and valued at 30 shillings. On 24 June it had been hanging up in Mrs Read’s kitchen. She saw it there about 10am. She went upstairs for a time and when she returned the watch had gone. Whilst she was upstairs she saw the prisoner cross the road. He had been coming from the direction of their back gate. She was quite sure it was him. She suspected he had taken the watch and gave the information to the police. She saw the watch again in the possession of police sergeant Hillyard. Sergeant William Hillyard: on the morning of 24 June he received information about a robbery. He went in pursuit of the prisoner and over took him in Silsoe. The prisoner was lying by the side of the hedge. He asked the prisoner if he had come from Ampthill and the prisoner replied he had. He asked whether the prisoner knew of a stolen watch and the prisoner said he did not have a watch and had not seen one. He searched the prisoner. He saw an impression in the grass as if someone had put their hand there and there he found the watch. He took the prisoner into custody. The witness Shelley identified the watch. The prisoner afterwards said that if he had known the watch belonged to a widow then he would not have taken it and he would have gone where they could better afford it. The prisoner said he meant to get something to get into gaol as he had no money and he would dare say they would give him 12 months for “this little job”. Statement of the accused: he did not wish to say anything.

item

Wolfburgh, Francis,
Shelley, Rebecca,
Hillyard, William,
Read, Mary

AMPTHILL, stealing, watches