Winslow History | Mrs Clarke's burglary, 1851

Mrs Clarke's burglary, 1851

Caroline Rebecca Clarke lived in the first house in Sheep Street, formerly an outbuilding of The Angel. She was the daughter of Benjamin Dudley, and died at Dudley Villa, 1 Patshull Road, Kentish Town, in 1870.

Bucks Chronicle, 1 March 1851

DARING BURGLARY. – A most daring case of house-breaking took place here last Sunday evening, at the house of Mrs. Clarke, a widow lady, situate in a conspicuous part of one of the principal streets, during Mrs. Clarke’s absence, who, with her son, was at the time in church. It is supposed the robbery was committed by two well-dressed strangers, having with them a boy – and it appears that they effected their entrance through the front door. No person being in the house at the time, the burglars ransacked the place, and carried away a considerable amount of cash, a gold watch, silver spoons, &c., with which they got clear off. As we are likely to have a great influx of strangers in this country shortly, it is to be hoped that this case will be a caution to parties not to quit their homes without leaving them in charge of some one.

Oxford Chronicle, 1 March 1851

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.- On Sunday evening the residence of Mrs. Caroline Rebecca Clarke, in Sheep-street, in this town (Winslow) was forcibly entered and a long catalogue of silver articles stolen therefrom, besides two purses containing £15 in gold, and from six to seven pounds in other cash. Suspicion rests on two men and a boy, strangers to Winslow, who, at eight o’clock the same evening, left the town on foot, carrying a carpet bag. They were traced to Buckingham, from whence they took a fly to Wolverton, and, from being too late for the last up train, slept there. On the following morning they left by the first train for London, where it appears they are known to be regular cracksmen. At the time of the robbery Mrs. Clarke was at church. It appears the thieves entered by means of false keys. Persons were by neighbours seen to knock at the door, and afterwards to unlock it and go into the house. On leaving the premises they fastened the outer door, as they found it. Before the family retired to rest, it was found that the premises had been plundered of the whole of the portable valuables. From information obtained it is clear that the plunderers were conveyancers from London, who avail themselves of railway travelling into the provinces to carry on their dishonest vocation.

Oxford Chronicle, 7 June 1851

SHARPERS PICKED UP.- Two persons, who gave the respective names of Charles Dunn and John Tunn, who had been travelling with a small box of jewellery, were on Monday last committed to Bedford gaol for trial, charged with having, on the previous Saturday, at the market table at the Windmill Inn, in that town, robbed Mr. Court. a contractor residing in the neighbourhood, of upwards of £19 in gold and silver. Mr. Basson, a publican, of Winslow, and Mr. Ossett, a police-officer of that place, identified the prisoners as being two of the three persons for whom search had been made on suspicion of having, on the evening of Sunday the 23rd of February, by means of false keys, entered and plundered the residence of Mrs. Clarke, of Winslow, of plate, jewellery, etc. It appears they were at Winslow on the Sunday, that they were seen to leave the town shortly after the robbery took place, and that they were then traced to Buckingham, Bletchley, and London.