Village History
Alleged House- Breaking Sensation
Village Resident On Two Charges Cottage Dweller Met Him On Stairs Said He Was Looking For A Pole” A Steeple Claydon man, gtated to have exemplary character with the London Brick Co. and long service elerk and to have lived fat Steeple Claydon (or several years, was alleged at Buckingham Magistrates’ Court, on Saturday, to have broken into t«o cottages in the middle of the night in hla own village and in one case to have stolen money and a packet of cigarettes. It was slated that the accused, who was Arthur Bernard Chambers, of 5, ( halloners Hill, Steeple Claydon, had been drinking and for the defence it was submitted that there was uo case of felonious intent and that the accused had not realized what was doing. It was staled that the cottage of single man. who was awakened in the middle of the night light, match-sticks were afterwards found on the floor and that after the accused was met the stairs the woman ocvupant of another cottage he told her that was looking for a Hole Accused was charged with feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Edward John Thomas Hodges, of 4, West St net, Steeple Claydon, on the night of Sunday, 137 th April, and feloniously stealing a leather wallet containing ,tS 10s. in Treasury notes and 10 Woodbine cigarettes; and also charged with feloniously breaking and entering the house of Annie Keziah Elliott, of No, 6, West Street, Steeple Claydon. with intent therein to commit a felony, namely, to steal. Accused, who was committed for trial, with hail as on the occasion his previous remand, pleaded not guilty and was defended by Mr. R. D. Sale. Wilfrid Thomas Hall, of 7. Ashgrove Road, Steeple Clay don. employed the Brickworks at Calvert, slated that April ’Jbth about midnight he left the Library Hall at Steeple Claydon where he had been attending dance in the company of two ladies, who were sisters. He wnnt down Challouers Hill, Steeple Claydon, to his home. The ladies left him at the Co-operative Stores. At about TJ.IO p.m. he met Mr. Chambers who was walking towards him from Mr. Reg Hill shop. He stopped and they had chat and smoko for about five minutes. Mr. Chambers smelt strongly of drink, but spoke quite ordinarily and stood all right ‘ . They had general conversation Mr. Chambers then went towards his home. Witness said that, apart from the two lailiot., who went to their mother’s home, he did not see anybody else in the vicinitv from the time when lie left the Library Hull the time when accused left his company. minutes,” continued witness, ” I heard 11 call from my grand-daughter, who was in bed. I got out of bed and went to the lop of the stairs. had candle alight in the bedroom and the scullery. the light of the candle I saw a man coming up the atairs. He was walking very slowly. I recognised him as Mr. Chambers. I said him Are you not Mr. Chambers?” He replied ” Yes “. to be continued ……..
Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press – Saturday 24 May 1952
