QSR1898/1/5/8

Depositions of Anne Taylor, George Circuit and Charles Busby. In the case of Frederick Augustus Porter Payne, accused of breaking and entering and therein stealing a quantity of bread, cheese, pickles and two bottles of beer.

12 January 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

Anne Taylor: a widow living in Stotfold. On Sunday 2nd January at about 10am she left her house to go to a friend. Previous to leaving she locked the front and back doors. About 5pm from information received she went to her house. She went into the dining room where she saw the prisoner and police constable, Busby. On the table there was some bread, pickles and a bottle which contained beer. She went to her pantry and missed some bread, cheese, pickles and two bottles of beer. The prisoner is her nephew and she did not think that he meant to steal. George Circuit: a labourer of Stotfold. On Sunday 2nd January about 4.15pm he was in the road in front of Anne Taylor’s house. He saw the prisoner go by and try to open the front door. The prisoner could not get in and went round to the back of the house. After a time the prisoner came out to the front of the house again and said that he had been through the closet, got in, and had some bread, cheese, beer and pickles, and that he would go back to have some more beer. He then went and gave information to the police. Charles Busby: a police constable stationed at Stotfold. On Sunday 2nd January about 5pm he received information and went to Anne Taylor’s house. He saw the prisoner on the footpath outside the house and asked him why he had gone into the house. The prisoner replied that his aunt was not at home and so he went in and that he could show him where he got into the house. He asked the prisoner what he had taken from the house and he replied that he had only a bottle of beer, but that he had had some bread, cheese, pickles and a bottle of beer whilst in the house. The prisoner added that he found the food in the cupboard and wanted some beef. He search the prisoner and found on him a bottle of beer. He accompanied the prisoner to the back of the house and the prisoner showed him how he had got into the house by going into the closet and through the back door. On the table in the dining room he found some bread and pickles. Anne Taylor came in and he drew her attention to the articles on the table. He asked her if she knew the prisoner and she replied that she was sorry that she did know him. He then took the prisoner into custody. Frederick Augustus Porter Payne: He told everyone that he had got a bit of food and he was sorry that his aunt was not at home or she would have given him some.

item

Taylor, Anne,
Circuit, George,
Busby, Charles,
Payne, Frederick Augustus Porter

STOTFOLD, widow, labourer, police constable, stealing, bread, beer, breaking & entering, cheese