QSR1852/4/5/9/a

Depositions of Charles John Coales, watchmaker of Luton, Joseph Coales, a minor, John O'Clee, watchmaker of Luton, and Alfred Atherton Murfin, police constable of Luton. In the case of Charles Day accused of stealing a silver watch.

23 August 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Charles John Coales: a watchmaker of Luton. On 21 August, Charles Day came to the shop and asked to view some watches. Day wished to see a watch which was on a board behind Coales’s back. Coales got it down. When Coales turned to get it he had his back to the prisoner. Day left the shop without buying anything. [crossed through] His brother told him he thought the prisoner had pocketed a watch. Coales looked among the watches he had shown Day and he missed one. He went to John OClee, also a watchmaker and gave him a description of the watch. Soon after he was sent for by OClee and on going there, he found the prisoner with his watch. Joseph Coales: he had been in his brother's shop whilst the prisoner had been there, and saw him look at some watches. He saw his brother turn his back and prisoner put his hand in his pocket. He did not see what he had in his hand. The prisoner soon left the shop. He told his brother of what he had seen. John Oclee: the prisoner came to his shop on the night of 21 August, and asked him to buy a watch. He asked a pound for it. Before that Coales had been in and given him a description of a watch. The watch offered matched the description. He sent for Mr Coales and he came whilst the prisoner was still in the shop. Coales identified the watch and asked the prisoner his name. He was told it was Smith and he lived at Hog Hall. Alfred Atherton Murfin: he took the prisoner into custody and advised him of the charge.

item

Day, Charles,
Coales, Charles John,
Coales, Joseph,
Oclee, John,
Murfin, Alfred Atherton

LUTON, stealing, Luton Hog Hall, watches, watchmaker