QSR1839/4/5/2/a

Deposition of Richard Vyse of Luton, hat manufacturer - Thomas Gee charged with stealing straw plait

1 August 1839

From: 1839 To: 1839

He bought a quantity of straw plait at St Albans last Saturday. His young man Walker bought one bundle from a woman named Edmonds living at Gustard Wood - the plait was brought to him by her daughter to the Turf Hotel at St Albans. He marked the bundle with a spot of ink. He also broke the plait nearly in two and put it into a bag with other bundles (similarly marked but not broken), and tied the bag in a peculiar manner. He also made an account in his market book of the bundles. He usually sends his bag of plait home from market by George Gee, father of the prisoner. He left the bag in the room where he usually pays for it and asked the policeman of St Albans to keep watch on it. He also informed Mrs Coleman the landlady. After he came home the bag was brought to his house. He examined the tie and found it quite different. John Cookson counted the bundles and ticked them off in his market book - one bundle was not ticked. This was the bundle he bought from Mrs Edmonds and contained 17 score and a half at 1s 10d a score. From information received he suspected Thomas Gee and obtained a search warrant for his father's house where he lives and for the house of James Stevens who's daughter Thomas Gee pays his addresses to. The bundle was found at Stevens house, in a brown paper parcel. Gee said he bought it from a woman who asked him 2s 2d a score for it but took 1s 10d. Gee said there was 18 score and it was not Vyse's bundle.

item

Gee, Thomas,
Gee, George,
Cookson, John,
Vyse, Richard,
Stevens, James

stealing, Straw Plait, straw hat manufacturer, St Albans Turf Hotel, St Albans, Wheathampstead Gustard Wood