Ipswich Journal 4 Aug 1798: Brand house broken into

CAMBRIDGE, August 3.

Yesterday se’nnight the house of R. (actually T. - ed.)Brand, a labouring man at Trumpington, was broke into in the day time, and robbed of all the poor man’s wearing apparel, besides several shifts, handkerchiefs, stockings, &c, belonging to his wife and children. The robbery was not discovered till towards the evening, when the woman came home with her gleanings, and on examining the house, she missed the abovementioned [sic] articles. Early the next morning she came to Cambridge, and on enquiring at the pawn-brokers and sale shops, Mr. Johnson shewed her a pair of buskin breeches, which he had purchased of a man the evening before, and which she said were her husband’s. A description of the man being given to Mr. Wheeler, the high constable, he sent men different ways in pursuit, and the robber was apprehended at Fenstanton, about 9 miles from this place, and having being taken before the Rev. Dr. Mansel, was committed for further examination. On Saturday he was re-examined, when Brand swearing positively to the different articles, the prisoner was fully committed to the castle. He says his name is James Howard, and that he is a Lancashire man, He was dressed in Brand’s cloaths [sic], and had left his old shoes, stockings, &c, in Brand’s house. Since his commitment, Howard has charged a man with being his accomplice in the robbery, and the keeper of the Castle immediately send his turnkey, who apprehended one of them at Huntingdon, and is now in search of the other.