QSR1839/4/5/2/j

Deposition of Robert Lees of Luton, police constable - Thomas Gee charged with stealing straw plait

1 August 1839

From: 1839 To: 1839

Last Sunday a warrant was given to him to search the houses of George Gee and James Stevens for plait lost by Mr Vyse. At Mr Stevens' he saw Mr Vyse with a bunch of plait in his hand partly covered with brown paper and a string. Mr Vyse and Mr Walker identified it by a mark. Thomas Gee said he purchased the plait at St Albans market from a woman he did not know but might recognise if he saw her again. He then took Gee into custody. During the evening Gee said he gave the plait found to Ann Stevens, and he could prove he had purchased in St Albans market - his brother Walter was present and saw him buy it. Then Gee said he didn't think his brother saw him, but he could get him to swear to it. Walter came in the evening and said he had not seen Gee buy it and would not swear to it. Gee said he had untied the bundle in Miss Stevens presence and had altered the tie of it so that Mr Vyse could not swear to it. Miss Stevens came to see him and said she was sorry for what she had done. She thought Thomas was likely to get into trouble so took the plait into the barn at the bottom of the garden.

item

Gee, Thomas,
Lees, Robert,
Gee, George,
Gee, Walter,
Vyse, Richard,
Stevens, James,
Stevens, Ann

stealing, straw plait, LUTON