QSR1842/4/5/48

Depositions - John Field charged with stealing a coat from William Field

17 October 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

William Field of Luton, shoemaker - on Monday 10 October about 12pm he went home to dinner and found his son John Field absent. He went home to tea and his son had not come home, nor had he come home by 10pm. He suspected something was wrong, went upstairs and looked in his drawers to see if everything was safe. To his great surprise he missed his best coat. The coat was quite new and he had only worn it three times. He thinks it was worth between 50s and £3. It was a dress coat. He heard yesterday that his son had come back. He went in search of him and found he was gone to Woodside. When he got there he found his son had gone to [Fily's?] Wash with some soldiers and others. He found his son there and asked what he had done with his coat. He said he had sold or exchanged it to an old glover at Watford and that he had given him half a crown and an old coat for it. Last Friday he went to Watford with Mr Ashton the superintendent of police. They went to Mr Richardson's a glover at Watford. He found his coat in Mr Richardson's possession and the coat now produced is his coat. John Richardson of Watford (Herts) - on 10 October John Field came to his shop. Field asked if he would purchase a coat as he was distressed. He recommended him to apply to a pawnbroker. Field went away and came back, said he could not sell it and asked him to buy it. He sent Field away again but he came back and urged him to buy it as he was in great distress. He made Field put it on to see if it fitted him and asked where he got it. Field said at Tottenham. He said he would exchange it for another coat. Field asked for 10s to boot - he refused to give more than 2s 6d. Field took it and they exchanged coats. William Ashton, superintendent of police - on Friday 14 he went with William Field to Mr Richardson at Watford to trace the coat he said had been stolen by his son. They found it in Mr Richardson's shop. He took possession of the coat and now produces it.

item

Field, William,
Field, John,
Richardson, John,
Ashton, William

LUTON, Watford, stealing, coat, glover, shoemaker