QSR1839/1/5/24

Depositions and examination - William East

26 November 1838

From: 1838 To: 1838

Mary Curtis, wife of Thomas Curtis, of Dunstable, pensioner from the 25th Regiment of Dragoons - lodged at the Black Horse in Dunstable. On last Saturday evening as she was toasting a herring by the fire, her pocket book containing 5s was taken from her pocket. She saw William East in the room shortly before she missed it. From information received she went to the Bell Lodging House to look for East and found him there drinking beer. When she threatened to call the policeman he ran away with the pot of beer in his hand, then threw it away as he went down the street. She called "stop thief" and he was apprehended amongst the trees near the Ladies Lodge. John Lane - was at the Black Horse. Mary Curtis was standing before the fire toasting a herring when East put his hand into her pocket and took something out. He assumed they knew each other and were "larking". After East left he mentioned it to another lodger, who then told Mary Curtis. Shortly after that he retired to bed. Samuel Cheshire - about 8am yesterday morning he was coming up Church Street in Dunstable and found the pocket book near the Bell Lodging House between the steps leading to the house and the cellar window. The book was open with 2s in one of the [tucks?]. He heard someone had been robbed at the Black Horse on the previous evening and informed Mr Lees the police officer. William East - claimed to know nothing about the pocket book.

item

Curtis, Mary,
Curtis, Thomas,
East, William,
Lane, John,
Cheshire, Samuel

DUNSTABLE, Dunstable Ladies Lodge, Dunstable Church Street, pickpocket, Dunstable Black Horse, Dunstable Bell, lodging houses