Crime at the Village Hall Part 5

Report from the Bury Free Press, 1933, illustrating how the theft of a pack of cards took precedence over homelessness.

At an occasional court at Bury St Edmunds Police Station on Saturday afternoon, before Mr J Ridley Hooper.

Mr J B Clark of no fixed abode, a native of Cardiff, was charged with breaking and entering the Village Hall at Beyton and stealing a pack of playing cards earlier that day.

A 14 year old girl stated that at 10.30 that morning, when in the hall, she heard glass being broken at the back. She closed the door and came out, waiting until the arrival of Mr Borley, who was bringing some coal. They went into the hall together, and witness went through into the kitchen, where she saw the prisoner brushing his coat. He went out, saying that he had been sleeping there that night.

P.C. Steed, of Rougham, said that at 11.40am he saw the prisoner in Gorse Wood behind a tree, eating some food. After being cautioned, he replied that he was wet, had no overcoat, and thought he would go into the hall for the day. He added that he broke the window with a stone. Later, the prisoner said,

“The pack of cards you found on me I took from the hall.”

Mr Clark was taken into custody. At least he had somewhere to sleep for a few nights.

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