QSR1911/4/5/5 (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)

Depositions: William George Wearn; Benjamin Revels; William Lewis & George Millard.

22nd July 1911

From: 1911 To: 1911

County of Bedford to wit. The Examination of William George Wearn, Benjamin Revels, Labourer, William Lewis, Labourer, George Millard, Sergeant of Police all of Shefford in the said County taken on Oath this twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and eleven at the Town Hall, Biggleswade, in the County aforesaid, `before the undersigned, One of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said County in the presence and hearing of George Collins who is charged this day, before the Court, for that he the said George Collins on or about the 18th day of July One thousand nine hundred and eleven at Shefford in the said County feloniously did break and enter the Counting house of the Midland Railway Company there situate and therein feloniously did steal a bicycle the goods and chattels of the said Midland Railway Company. Contrary to the form of the Statues in such case made and provided. And this Deponent, William George Wearn on his Oath, saith as follows:- I am Relief Station Master in employ of Midland Railway Company. I was acting station Master at Shefford on Tuesday July 18th (1911). The Station was closed and made secure at 9.20pm on that night and the booking hall locked up. Shortly after midnight, I was called to the Railway Station by the Police. I found the double door leading into the booking hall has been forced open and a large pane of glass in the door broken also a pane of glass in one of the windows. A bicycle which was there when the Station was closed was missing. The Bicycle now produced is the bicycle in question. It is the property of the Midland Railway to and is valued at £5 Signed William George Wearn QSR1911/4/5/5(ii) Re-called. I next saw the Bicycle about 7.50 a.m. on July 17th in the Booking Hall, where it had been brought back by one the Company’s Servants. The Bicycle clips produced to were on the Bicycle the previous evening when the station was locked up Signed William George Wearn QSR1911/4/5/5(iii) And this deponent George Millard on his Oath saith as follows:- I am Police Sergeant stationed at Shefford. About 11pm on July 18th last. I was on duty in Shefford and saw the Prisoner who told me he was going to Bedford and was very hungry. I took him to the “Black Swan “where he had some food. When he had eaten it he went off in the direction of Bedford. About midnight I was near the Railway Station when I met the witness Lewis and he made a communication to me. I sent Lewis to the rear of the Railway Station, and I went round the top along the Railway and searched and found the double doors leading into the booking hall broken open, and a pane of glass broken in the door. QSR1911/4/5/5(iv)(v) The centre pane of the window was also broken close to the fastening. I went towards the end of the platform and heard Lewis shout, “There he is”. I looked over the fence on the Railway bank. I found the Prisoner just below on the bank and I jumped over and caught him. Lewis came to my assistance. I took the prisoner into the street. He said, “You are not the mates I expected to find” I informed the stationmaster what has happened and brought prisoner to Biggleswade Police Station. I charged him with breaking and entering the premise of the Midland Railway Company and cautioned him. He said, “Yes I know I broke the glass in the booking hall door. I got through there broke the fastening lock, and unbolted the door. I am tired of walking about”. He was searched and on him was found 2 shillings and 4 pence and the pair of bicycle clips produced. Signed George Millard PS The foregoing deposition of George William Wearn, Benjamin Revels, William Lewis and George Millard were severally taken and sworn before me this 22nd day of July 1911 Justice of the Peace for the County of Bedford QSR1911/4/5/5(vi) And this deponent Benjamin Revels on his oath saith as follows:- I am a Labourer and live at Shefford. About 10.30p.m on Tuesday July18th I was working with Wm Lewis close to the Midland Railway Station. I saw the Prisoner near the “Black Swan” and he asked me the way to the Railway Station. I told him there were no trains that night, and Prisoner walked away down the Bedford Road. A little after midnight I was near the Railway Station removing night soil when I heard a smash of glass. I went and told Sergeant Williams and Lewis and I went with the Sergeant to the Railway Station and made a search. I saw the Prisoner drop over the fence at the end of the platform on to the Railway bank and the Sergeant then caught him. Signed Benjamin Revels QSR1911/4/5/5(vii) And this deponent William Lewis on his oath saith as follows:- I am a Labourer living at Shefford I was working with the witness Revels on the night of July 18th. I heard the smashing of glass about midnight near the Railway Station. I went and told Sergeant Mallard and I went to the Railway Station and I saw Mallard arrest the Prisoner as I was climbing up the Railway bank Signed W. Lewis

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Wearn, William George,
Revels, Benjamin,
Lewis, William,
Millard, George

breaking & entering, Midland Railway Company, Shefford Black Swan Inn, Police Station Shefford, bicycles, prisoners