QSR1898/4/5/10

Depositions of Charles William Deacon of Chapel Street, Luton, corn Merchant; Lawrence Huckle of 22 Baker Street Luton, Foreman; William Chamberlain, Detective Sergeant, Luton and Frank Taylor on commitment charged with Felony in connection with this charge. In the case of Joseph Underwood accused of feloniously did receive of one Frank Taylor a quantity of corn the property of Charles William Deacon which had then lately been feloniously stolen from the said Charles William Deacon the Master of him the said Frank Taylor. He the said Joseph Underwood then well knowing the same to have been feloniously stolen.

21st September 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

This Deponent Charles William Deacon on his Oath saith as follows: - I am a corn Merchant and have business premises in Chapel Street Luton. On Saturday 3rd Sept. inst my Miller reported that some beans had been taken from the Mill. In consequence I searched the premises and found them in a bag in the stalls. I had the place watched and the result reported to me. On the 6th inst when the Prisoner Taylor was arrested on another charge I asked him about the Beans he was seen to take away from the yard on the Saturday night previous. He replied “It was only a little feed I took to Elizabeth Street” On Wednesday the 7th inst I was called by D. S. Chamberlain to Underwood’s stables in Elizabeth Street were I saw the corn from which the sample produced was taken and identified it as my property by the beans. They are [] beans very few of which are used in this District. I identify the mixture too as my property. I have never sold any such to Underwood. The value beans and mixture is 5/-. [Cross Examined] I know Underwood as a Dealer and Grocer in Elizabeth Street Luton and have seen him on my premises. He has an a/c with me at the present time. He would in the ordinary way be supplied sometimes for cash and sometimes for credit. This Deponent Lawrence Huckle of 22 Baker Street in the said Borough of Luton, saith as follows: - I am Foreman in Mr Deacons retail shop in Chapel St. Luton. I know the Defendant who occasionally calls at the shop and buys chaff and bran, but very seldom corn. I never sold the corn produced to Defendant. When asked sometimes if he wanted corn he would reply “I’ve got some good tares”. On Saturday the 17th inst Defendant come with the shop and bought five bushels of chaff. Half bushel of mixed corn, one peck of beans and one peck of bran. [Cross Examined] Underwood has bought chaff, bran and straw occasionally but no corn. I am always there and see everything that goes out. Lately always paid cash but owes an account now. Recollect his coming on a Sunday about a month ago to complain that Taylor had taken a truss of straw to the wrong place. A truss Underwood had paid for. I supplied Underwood with another truss. Known him 12 or 14 years and never knew anything against his character. This Deponent William Chamberlain of Luton in the said Borough of Luton saith as follows: - I am a Detective Sergeant in the Borough of Luton. On Wednesday the 7th Sept. inst I went to Defendants stable situate at the rear of his house in Elizabeth St, Luton. I saw Deft. and said to him “A man named Taylor working for Mr. Deacon is locked up for stealing corn” Deft replied “Oh” I said “I want to see what corn you have” and in the stable in a large tin I saw corn produced of the description given me by Mr. Deacon I said to Deft “Where did you buy this corn from” He replied “Sometimes in Luton and sometimes in St. Albans where I can get it the cheapest” I sent for Mr. Deacon who came and identified the corn. I said to Defendant again “Where did you get this from” He replied “that’s my business” I then took the sample corn produced. I have since made enquiries of all corn dealers in Luton and St. Albans but fail to find anyone having corn mixture like sample. This Deponent Frank Taylor of Luton in the said Borough of Luton, saith as follows: - On Saturday September 3rd of this year Underwood came up to me in the Stable yard at Mr. Deacons. He said to me I am going to order a bag of chaff today then when you bring that you can bring two bags of chaff and some corn instead of the one bag that will take the blind off the other. Then he left me and I goes and gets a bushel to a bushel and a half of beans. About ½ past 8 the same night I took to his stable the beans I have mentioned. He was there took the beans and gave me a shilling – he says “when I order any more stuff that will be the time to take the bags back” I walked off and home. [Cross Examined] The 3rd September was the first time I had ever had any conservation with Underwood of the kind I have mentioned - the time was ½ past 6 in the morning. I cannot say if he did or did not come to the shop that day to order any chaff. If he had come Mr. Huckle must have known – When I went in the evening to Underwoods no one was there. There was a light and he looked as if he had just come in with his [horse]. I noticed he looked as if he had had a drop too much. This is not the first time I have been in trouble I had 15 months for house breaking. That was about a year and 8 months ago. That was not my first offence. I had previously been convicted 3 or 4 times for thefts and things of that kind. Statement of Accused “I reserve my defence”

10 pages

item

Deacon, Charles William,
Huckle, Lawrence,
Chamberlain, William,
Taylor, Frank,
Underwood, Joseph

Luton Chapel Street, Luton Baker Street, LUTON, Luton Elizabeth Street, corn merchants, foreman, detective, grocers, chaff, corn, beans