Military men arrested after theft of cash from barracks' canteen

In the early hours of the last Monday in August 1852 the canteen of the Fulwood Barracks, which was kept by George Worthington, was broken into and a cash box containing about £60 was carried off.

- 

The money consisting of £25 in bank notes and the remainder being in gold and silver coins.

Upon discovery of the theft suspicion fell upon two privates belonging to the 50th Regiment, John Jones and William Boxhall, who had been found to have absconded. The empty cash box was found a few hours later in a plantation close to the House of Recovery.

A county-wide alert was at once issued and the suspected culprits were apprehended within the week. Both men being brought back to Preston to appear at the offices of Messrs. Pilkington before magistrate Richard Newsham Esq.

William Burgess, inspector of police at Ashton-under-Lyne, gave evidence of capturing Boxhall in that town. Stating that when being taken to the police station the accused had tried to hand over discreetly to a female, who was accompanying him, a gold watch and guard.