QSR1841/4/5/32

Depositions against John Jones, charged with stealing a purse

25 September 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

William Ashby of Wheathampstead (Herts), labourer - he was at Luton Statute the previous day, standing by the market house talking to a person he knew. Mr Lewington came up to him and asked if he had lost anything. He said he did not know that he had. He felt in his right hand breeches pocket and found his purse was gone. Mr Lewington showed him a purse which he knew to be his. There was 8 shillings in it. William Lewington of Luton, builder - he was in the upstairs room at the White Hart at Luton. He looked out of the window and saw a suspicious lot of fellows about. He saw them press a farming looking man. He thought they were going to rob him. He saw the old man lean back and the prisoner John Jones pressed on his stomach. He saw him make a dab, put his hand in his pocket and walk away. He went out after Jones, caught him a few yards from the spot, clapped his hand on his shoulder and told him he had some business with him. Jones put his hand in his pocket and tried to pass something to another man. He saw a purse drop to the ground out of his hand and picked it up. He took Jones back to the old man and asked if he had lost anything. He said he had lost his purse. He took the prisoner and the purse to the policeman. John Tutte of Dunstable, police constable - Jones was given to him in charge by Mr Lewington who also gave him the purse now produced, with 3 half crowns and a sixpence in it. Jones said he was not the man who did it and that Lewington had got hold of the wrong man. He said he was working for Mr Cox, a gingerbread baker from Reading and he was waiting for him, and that he came from Reading.

item

Jones, John,
Ashby, William,
Tutte, John,
Lewington, William

LUTON, Wheathampstead, DUNSTABLE, fairs and markets, pickpocket, builder, Luton White Hart