QSR1898/1/5/9,10,11

Depositions of Frederick Payne, James Champkin and Frederick James Underwood. In the case of John Day, Walter Burnett and Charles Oakes, accused of breaking and entering and therein stealing a brush and a towel.

14 January 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

Frederick Payne: a labourer, living at Old Farm cottages in Hockcliffe. On Wednesday 22nd December he left his house. When he left, the cottage was secure with all the doors and windows being fastened. The brush and towel were in the back kitchen. James Champkin: a labourer of Tilsworth. On Sunday 9th January about 11.45am he was near the Old Farm in Hockcliffe. He saw two men loitering about in the road opposite the Old Farm cottages. When he got within 25 yards of the cottage he saw a third man come out of the premises into the road. The third man was the tallest of the three and asked him to give him a cabbage. He made no reply. Frederick James Underwood: a police constable stationed at Hockcliffe. On Sunday 9th January about 9.30am he visited the Old Farm cottages, which consisted of three cottages, two vacant and one occupied by Mr. Payne, who was away from the house. The premises where then secured. He visited the premises again about 12.30pm and found that a window had been broken in the cottage occupied by Mr. Payne. There was also dirt upon the window sill. From enquiries made he went up the road in the direction of Dunstable and he caught up with the prisoners at Chalk Hill, about 1 ½ miles from the cottages. He told the prisoners that he would charge them with breaking and entering a house in Hockcliffe. The prisoner, Day, said that he knew nothing about it. He then took them into custody. On the way to the police station the prisoner, Day, said that they entered the cottage to see if there was anything to eat as they were hungry. At the station he assisted in searching the prisoners. On the prisoner, Oakes, he found a brush and a towel. The inspector charged them with breaking and entering into the house. All three prisoners said that this was correct. On 10th January before the Justice, the prisoner, Oakes, stated that he had brought the towel from Battersea and that they had only taken the brush from the cottage. The prisoner, day, also stated that they had only taken the brush from the cottage. John Day: Nothing to say Walter Burnett: Nothing to say Charles Oakes: Nothing to say

item

Payne, Frederick,
Champkin, James,
Underwood, Frederick James,
Day, John,
Burnett, Walter,
Oakes, Charles

Hockcliffe, TILSWORTH, labourer, police constable, breaking & entering, stealing, brush, towel