QSR1850/1/5/34/a

Depositions of Richard Valentine Bale, clerk of Bath Street London, Edward Yates, victualler of Luton and Louisa Stanion , singlewoman of Luton, in the case of William Wyatt Poole, waiter of Paul's Street Finsbury, accused of housebreaking,

20 December 1849

From: 1849 To: 1850

Richard Valentine Bale: had come to Luton with William Wyatt Poole, to meet Louisa Stanion and Harriett Cousins. They lived in Mr Grenville's house in Chapel Street, Luton, on the ground floor. Bale & Poole were short of money. Poole said that the girls had money and he would take some of it and give some to Bale. He proposed Bale got to London to fetch Henry Monkley to affect the robbery. Bale did so, and the 3 men met at the Richard the Third. It was arranged that Poole & Bale would take the ladies out for the evening whilst Monkley entered the property via a window they knew would not be locked. On their return to the house, the window was open and things strewn about the place. It was arranged Poole would overtake Monkley on the road to London, as Monkley said he knew where to put the property. Lousia Stanion: along with Harriett Cousins, they went out for an evening walk with Poole & Bale, between about 8pm and 9pm. On returning the window was open and so were her boxes. Both men knew the window did not fasten properly. Shortly before they went for the walk Poole had left for a few minutes. Miss Stanion missed a silver watch, a five pound note, a half sovereign, 9 shillings, a stain dress, a silk dress, a satin shawl, a gold locket and a broach. Poole left about 8am the next day, saying he would return at night, but he did not. Edward Yates: kept the Richard the Third ale house in London Road Luton. On 12 December he witnessed all 3 men whispering together in the tap room. When he entered the room, they changed the subject and talked louder. They said they would be back later. The third man came back later with some dirty cloth boots which he asked Yates’s wife to take care of. He had some bread, cheese and beer. Around 8pm Poole came in, called for ale, drunk it in a hurry and left. The other man left directly after.

item

Poole, William Wyatt,
Bale, Richard Valentine,
Yates, Edward,
Stanion, Louisa,
Cousins, Harriett,
Grenville

Finsbury, waiter, breaking & entering, clothing, JEWELLERY, coins, clerk, Luton Chapel Street, Luton London Road, LUTON