QSR1852/3/5/23/a

Depositions of Susannah George, singlewoman of Luton, Sarah Kingham, wife of William and Solomon Gurney, police constable, of Luton. In the case of Louisa Williamson accused of stealing a chemise.

10 June 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Susannah George: a single woman living in New Town Street in Luton. On 23 May she gave some things, among them a chemise, to Mrs Kingham with whom she lodged, to wash. On 30 May she asked Mrs Kingham for it. The prisoner Louisa Williamson had been in the house on 28 May. Williamson had been alone in the front room where the linen was. George had been in the back room. Williamson, was a relative of Mrs Kingham, who told her she suspected the prisoner of taking it. On 8 June George and Kingham went to Williamson, and Mrs Kingham asked her for the chemise. She at first denied having it so Mrs Kingham went for the police. After he came the prisoner and Mrs Kingham went upstairs. The prisoner was wearing the chemise and she took it off. George recognized the chemise as hers. It was shown to policeman Gurney, who put this mark on it and retuned it to George. It was not in a fit state to be given up to the policeman until washed. She gave it to the policeman 10 minutes later. Sarah Kingham: Susannah George lodged with her and on 23 May she gave her linen to wash, among them items was a chemise. She hung the lined out to dry in the evening and a shower meant she brought it in and laid it on the table ion the front room. There was nobody in the room. The prisoner was alone in the room later that evening. Next morning she put the clothes in a basket, it was still wet so they could not be hung out. On 30 May the prosecutor asked for her chemise, and they both looked for it, but could not find it. She suspected the prisoner, but she had never had reason to mistrust her before. On 8 June they went to the prisoners lodgings to ask her for the chemise. She denied having it. Kingham went for Constable Gurney. On returning she went upstairs with the prisoner who stripped and pulled off the chemise. Kingham could identify it as the one lost. Solomon Gurney: was asked by Mrs Kingham to go to the accused's house. Williamson was asked in his presence for the chemise but denied having it. He told her perhaps she would not mind him looking. She asked if he had a search warrant. He said no. The accused and Mrs Kingham went upstairs whilst he remained outside and the bottom of the stairs Mrs Kingham returned with the chemise in her apron. She said it was the one which had been lost. George identified it as her property. He marked the item but left it with George. He later returned and asked for it and took it to his wife who washed it.

item

Williamson, Louisa,
George, Susannah,
Kingham, Sarah,
Kingham, William,
Gurney, Solomon

LUTON, Luton New Town Street, stealing, clothing, bonnet sewer