Cambridgeshire

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Soham Police - The Soham Police Charge Book, 1848-1855

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Supplementary Information on the Career of Robert Hornsby

Robert Hornsby, born 20 Dec 1813, Marylebone, Middlesex.

26 July 1836 at Rotherhithe, married Susanna Saunders. In that same year he joined the newly formed Metropolitan Police as a Constable.

Proceedings of the Old Bailey. 1837 p1034, Trial of William Legassick for perjury, 3 April 1837, Robert Hornsby PC F83
[F = Metropolitan Police Service Covent Garden Division]

Proceedings of the Old Bailey, Sealey, Bailey and Callaghan theft 2 April 1838, Robert Hornsby PC F83

Proceedings of the Old Bailey 22 October 1838, William Taylor, robbery. on 21 September 1838, when he arrested the defendant, Robert was a police constable. No longer a police officer by the time of the trial on 22 October 1838

Reading Mercury, Saturday 2 March 1839
Superintendent Hornsby of Speen police fought off an assault by a prisoner armed with an iron tipped bludgeon

Reading Mercury, Saturday 31 August 1839 p2
Convictions and commitments by the Newbury Magistrates on 29th inst. James Palmer for an assault on Robert Hornsby, Sergeant, of police of the parish of Speen.

Reading Mercury, Saturday 5 October 1839 p1
Reward for person damaging brick pedestal in Speen - information to Robert Hornsby police office Speen

Reading Mercury, Saturday 26 September 1840 p2
Robert Hornsby, "police officer Speen", dealt with a false report of a robbery

Berkshire Chronicle, Saturday 23 October 1841 p2
Robert Hornsby described as "Superintendent of the Newbury police force".

1841 Census
Speen Berkshire, Robert Hornsby, police officer, aged 28 b.1813 married,
Wife Susannah 25,
Son Robert aged 3
Dau Susannah aged 1

Proceedings of the Old Bailey 13 June 1842
Trial of William Webb for theft. Robert Hornsby was a Constable at Speen near Newbury, Berkshire.

Reading Chronicle 5 November 1842 p3
Robert Hornsby mentioned as the officer at Speen.

Reading Mercury, Saturday 26 November 1842 p2.
On Thursday Robert Hornsby police officer at Speen was appointed a Special Constable for that parish

Berkshire Chronicle 6 Jan 1844 p4
Report of theft case described Robert Hornsby as "a policeman of Newbury"

Bury and Norwich Post 11 December 1844
William Martin and James Taylor labourers of Great Saxham were apprehended by Superintendents English and Hornsby on a charge of setting fire to three stacks.
Same paper, 18 December 1844 p2, on the same case, "these cases are striking examples of the utility of a detective police and reflect the highest credit on the officers engaged."

Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 9 April 1845 p4,
Arson at Saxham, Jeremiah Head and George Head for firing a dwelling house at Great Saxham - Robert Hornsby was a prosecution witness, described as "police constable at Ixworth", (Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 16 April 1845 p2 referred to him as Mr Superintendent Hornsby)

1846 at Thingoe Suffolk, Robert Hornsby married Sarah Wells

Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 1 April 1846 p2 Assault by a police officer - Robert Hornsby, Inspector of the West Suffolk Police stationed at Ixworth was charged by William Whent, railway labourer, with assault. It was alleged that Hornsby struck a railway labourer after he had made a sarcastic remark about the Inspector's police cart. Hornsby was convicted and fined 5s 12/6 costs.

Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 13 May 1846 p3, advert for sale of dwelling house in Greyhound Lane "in the occupation of Robert Hornsby".

Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 22 September 1847 p4
Report on a serious accident at Hadleigh railway station when a newly built 14 ft high brick wall was blown down in strong winds, injuring about 65 people. One of the injured was Sergeant Hornsby, who received two wounds to the head and contusion of the chest

Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday 12 December 1849 p3
The late fire at Snailwell On Wednesday J.D.Merest and Alexander Cotton esqs attended at Snailwell for the purpose of hearing the evidence against William Barton who was apprehended on the previous day by Hornsby, the Superintending Constable of Soham, charged with setting fire to the above premises" Barton was committed to the next Assize and Hornsby was praised by the writer for his sound discretion and tact. Barton convicted and ordered to be transported for 18 yrs at Assizes (Cambridge General Advertiser, Saturday 30 March 1850 p6)

Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, Saturday 22 June 1850 p2
SOHAM Cage Robbery, Novel Proceeding.
"On Monday last, a felony having been committed in a house occupied by Mrs. Brown, East Fen Common in Soham, the policemen appointed under the general watching and lighting act, apprehended a person named Manning, and finding some or the stolen goods upon his person, they placed him in the cage for safe custody, till they could take him before the magistrates. Robert Hornsby, the ex superintendent of police, and now special constable, thinking the prisoner was not so safe in the lock-up as he would be under his special care, and probably expecting a pleasant ride to Cambridge with him, at the expense of the county, took the prisoner out of the cage, and placed him under the care of one Robert Heagren, discarded policeman, at the Ship public house; but Manning, not liking the disagreeable odor of beer and tobacco, and sundry articles of grocery, made his escape, whilst Heagren was having a quiet nap. He was afterwards pursued by the special with his sleepy friend, and one or two assistants, but has not yet been captured. The Inspectors of police do not at all fancy the liberty taken by Hornsby, and intend placing some additional locks upon the cage, that the policemen appointed by them may not have trouble of detecting felonies and apprehending the offenders, and then have them taken out of their custody by a man sanctioned by only a few individuals, to harass and annoy nine-tenths of the most influential inhabitants of the town. Correspondent".

Cambridge Independent Press 13 July 1850 p4.
Cambridgeshire Quarter Sessions
Articles of the Peace were exhibited by Robert Hornsby of Soham, a special constable, against Joseph Dalton, one of the Soham police. The exhibitant deposed that Dalton held up a stick in a threatening manner and said "I should like to give it you, and I will one of these nights". It was understood that the dispute arose in consequence of a prisoner being taken out of the custody of the police, by order of Mr Merest, the magistrate. The court ordered Dalton to be bound till the next sessions, himself in £40 and two sureties in £20 each. Malden and Martin became sureties. Mr Worlledge was counsel for Hornsby, Mr Metcalfe for Dalton. Articles of the piece were exhibited by George Fletcher Malden, of Soham, farmer, against Robert Hornsby, the exhibitant in the last case. The articles were supported by the affidavit of William Martin, of Soham, Carter. Mr Worlledge objected that the threat was made not to the exhibitant, but to Martin; that it was stated to have been made on the 8th of April, Martin did not tell Malden of it till the 16th of June, and Malden did not go to a magistrate until the 24th of June, the very day on which Hornsby appeared before the magistrate and laid his complaint against Dalton. The court decided that they should not call upon Hornsby to find sureties. Mr Naylor was counsel for Maldon; Mr Worlledge for Hornsby. (Criminal Law Act 1826 s31 re exhibiting articles of the peace)

Independent Press, Saturday 09 November 1850 p3.
The Police again.— At a special meeting called by the Inspectors on Thursday evening, a numerous and most respectable body of rate-payers attended at the Court House, to hear charges read by two ex-Inspectors against our present police. Robert Hornsby was called to attempt to prove a charge of gross neglect of duty, in their being at the White Hart, from 12 o’clock at night till 1 o'clock in the morning, drinking and smoking; but, upon the son of the present worthy landlord, Mr. B. Dennis, being called, he at once satisfied the Inspectors, and all present, that Hornsby’s statement was untrue. Hornsby’s witness was Robert Heagren, a discharged policeman under Hornsby's superintendence. Further particulars must be deferred until next week, as the meeting was not over when our letter was despatched. These frequent collisions between parties sworn to keep the peace are very unseemly. Cambridge

1851 Census
Moat Lodge, Soham, Robert Hornsby head of household, married, age 37 (b.1814, Middlesex Marylebone). Police Officer.
Wife Sarah, age 31, b.1820 Berkshire.
Son Robert, age 13, b. 1838 Westminster St Clement Danes
daughter Susan, age 12, b. 1839 Speen Berkshire
daughter Lucy, age 4, b. 1847 Ixworth Suffolk ,
daughter Emily, age 3, b. 1848 Hadleigh Suffolk

Cambridge Chronicle 10 January 1852, p8
Robert Hornsby listed among the appointments to the newly formed Cambridgeshire Constabulary as the Sergeant at Caxton Division.

Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday 13 August 1853 p8
St Neots, Superintendent Robert Hornsby is appointed Inspector of Weights and measures and High Constable for the Toseland Division,

Cambridge Independent Press - Saturday 11 February 1854 p8
"St. Neots.—Suspension - Mr. Robert Hornsby, the Superintending Constable, of this district, has been suspended from duty, by the command of the Magistrates, till the result of an investigation relative to witnesses’ money is known. The suspension occurred about a week back, since which time Mr. Hornsby has sold up and left the town. It is believed, from the respectable testimony which can be adduced, that he will act wisely and not return. The greatest feeling of indignation is publicly expressed"

Cambridge Independent Press 18 February 1854 p8
Appointment of Superintending Constable Thomas Storey, in the place of Robert Hornsby superintending constable who was suspended the previous week.

Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, Saturday 22 July 1854 p7
Report of Hornsby's trial for having falsely obtained sums of money from the County of Huntingdon. Convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour.

Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, Saturday 20 October 1855 p7
Hornsby had been discharged from gaol during the past year on medical grounds.