QSR1840/4/5/15/a

Depositions of William Ashton and John Foster - John Miles charged with stealing a gold chain

17 August 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

William Ashton of Luton, superintendent of police - On Saturday afternoon Mr Crawley called on him and said Mrs Crawley had lost a gold chain the previous evening. He searched the boxes of all the servants. Mr Crawley came and said he had heard that Miles had sent a parcel by the Post. He took Miles into custody on suspicion. He asked Miles if he was married and where his wife was - he said yes, and that she was in Bath. John Foster brought him a letter directed to Mrs Miles, 5 Little Chesterfield Street, Marylebone, London. He showed the letter to Mr Crawley, got a search warrant from Mr McDonald and went to London to the address on the letter. He found Mrs Miles and asked to see her in her own room. He asked her if she had received a parcel on Saturday morning - she said she had. He asked to see the contents. She pulled the gold chain now produced out of her pocket and said "Is it that you want". He asked if there was anything else in the parcel and she gave him a letter. He found the account book now produced on the prisoner, which appears to be his account with Mr Crawley. John Foster, police constable of Luton - He went to the prisoner in the cage about 9pm on Saturday night to give him his supper. He asked for a pen, ink and paper - the superintendent agreed. On Sunday morning he took them to the prisoner who said he wanted to write to his wife. Miles said he hoped they would not find it on her - if they did he did not send it. Miles gave him the letter and asked him to take it to the Post Office. He gave it to the superintendent.

item

Miles, John,
Ashton, William,
Crawley, Samuel,
Crawley, Maria,
Foster, John,
McDonald

stealing, JEWELLERY, LUTON, Marylebone