Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 22 April 1932.

THE KEMSING THEFTS, MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

SUBSEQUENT ESCAPE FROM WARDER IN LONDON.

At Sevenoaks Police Court on Friday, Edward Vaughan Barraclough, described as a commercial traveller, of no fixed abode, was committed for trial at the Kent Quarter Sessions, charged with breaking and entering the "Chequers Inn" at Heaversham and stealing 3,800 cigarettes, a quantity of whiskey and 5s. in money, together of the value of £18 10s. 2d., the property of the Trust Houses, Ltd., and 2s. the property of Elizabeth Holmden, and also with breaking and entering the Southern Railway Station at Kemsing with intent to steal.

Barraclough had been remanded from the previous Friday.

At Friday's hearing the Magistrates were Mr. George White (chairman). Mrs. Streatfield and Mr. G. A. Calder.

The previous evidence having been read over.

John Holmden, husband of the manageress of the "Chequers Inn" at Heaversham, stated that on April 6th he locked up the inn after closing time and fastened the windows. He retired to bed at about 11.30 and got up the next morning at 5.15 He then found that the cellar window had been broken open. The cellar was all up-side down and in a state of disorder, card-board boxes were lying about and the cupboard door was open and the cigarettes that had been kept in the cupboard were gone. The front door was unlocked and unbolted and stood ajar.

Elizabeth Holmden, the manageress, said she found that 2s. was missing out of the cupboard and 5s. which had been left in the till for float money was also gone. George Harris of no fixed abode, a labourer, identified defendant as the man he saw at 6 o'clock on the morning of April 7th. Defendant walked into a shed on the Pilgrims-Road, where witness had slept the night. Defendant gave witness some whiskey and asked him which was the nearest station. Defendant took the bottle of whiskey from his pocket and so far as witness could see he carried nothing else with him.

Sergt. Butcher confirmed the evidence he gave at the previous hearing, and Det. Hill corroborated.

Thomas Christopher Foster. of Noah's Arc, Kemsing, signalman and porter employed by the Southern Railway at Kemsing Station, gave evidence to the effect that he locked up the booking office, porters' room and waiting room at the station and left work at 12.25 a.m. on April 7th.

Ernest James Godden, of Seal, signal-man and porter at Kemsing Station, said that on going on duty at 4 a.m. on April 7th he noticed that the small window of the booking office was broken. He later informed the police.

Defendant pleaded guilty, and had nothing to say.

The Chairman complimented the police.

Addressing Supt. E. Fowle, Mr. White said: "My colleagues on the Bench would like me to say here that they were very interested in the prompt manner in which the police have dealt with this case."

ESCAPE AND RE-ARREST.

After being committed for trial at Seven-oaks, Barraclough was handed over to a warder from Wormwood Scrubs Prison, but made his escape at Charing Cross Station when allowed to go to the cloakroom. Borrowing a file from a motor driver, he cut his handcuff off. He disappeared, and on Monday was arrested with another man and woman at Aldenham. They were charged at Bushey as being suspected persons, but the charge was dismissed. Barraclough, who was charged in the name of Roy Milmore, was, however handed over to an escort of warders from Wormwood Scrubs.