The Bucks Standard January 1st 1921

ALLEGED THEFT FROM A WIDOW WOMAN

FARM LABOURER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

A case of alleged daylight housebreaking at Castlethorpe was heard at a Special Sessions at Stony Stratford, on Wednesday, Dec. 29, before Dr. T. S. Maguire and Mr. F. Vickers.
William Burnell, a 25-year-old farm labourer, of Castlethorpe, was charged in custody for breaking and entering in the day time the dwelling-house of Mrs. Wareing, a widow and stealing two watches and a postal order, together of the value of £1 12s. The offence was stated to have been committed on Dec 23.
Mrs. Wareing, in evidence, said she lived next door to defendant at Castlethorpe. Just before two o’clock on Dec 23 she left home to go by train to Wolverton Market. She fastened the doors and windows of her house before leaving. In the back kitchen there was a pane of glass out, and the space had been covered with a piece of cardboard. It had been like that since the summer. On returning about 4.30 she noticed a smell of paraffin and discovered a broken bottle. Soon afterwards she missed the postal order, value 2s., which she wanted to send away that night. It was not until bedtime the watches were missed. One was an old one and the other a wristlet. Both were metal watches.
Henry Miles, watch repairer, Wolverton, said defendant, who was an old time customer, offered the watches for sale. Witness bought the old one for 2s. and the wristlet watch for 5s. Defendant said he was out of work, so he (witness) bought the out of charity.
Annie Sykes, wife of a Wolverton tobacconist, said she changed the 2s. postal order for defendant for three packets of cigarettes.
P.C. Bonner said he noticed against the broken window a piece of soap with an imprint which indicated Bedford cord clothing. In company with P.S. Honour, he interviewed defendant who said he was sorry he did it.
P.S. Honour corroborated, and added that defendant handed him the money received for the watches and the change from the postal order.
Defendant expressed his sorrow, and the bench decided to commit hi for trial at the Bucks Quarter Sessions to be held at Aylesbury on Monday, January 3.