QSR1853/1/5/17b/a

Depositions of Joseph Allen, draper of Luton, Henry Hollands, shoemaker of Luton, Alfred Atherton Murfin, police constable of Luton, George Cocksedge, Inspector of Police, Hitchin, Mary Murphy, widow of Hitchin, Mary Ann Winfield, of Hitchin, Ann Godbold, of Hitchin and Sarah Piper, wife of William. In the case of George Jackson accused of stealing 38 yards of cotton print.

19 November 1852

From: 1852 To: 1853

Joseph Allen: on the evening of 9 November, he lost some cotton prints. They had been at the entrance to the shop. They were in a pile with others. John alias William Jackson, was standing in the doorway, whilst Allen's attention was with a customer. Someone told him a man had stolen something from the door, and Allen ran after him but did not catch him. Henry Holland: lived opposite Mr Allen. On the evening of 9 November he saw George Jackson & John Tomson standing on the pavement close to Mr Allen's shop door. He saw John Tomson walk away towards some females who were looking in the shop window. As soon as Tomson’s back was turned the prisoner took something from the pile of goods in Mr Allen's doorway. He placed it under the back of his coat and strode past Messrs Jennings & Gates shop and then ran down Bute Street towards seven acres. Holland ran after him but did not catch him. It was quite dark and he lost him. Alfred Atherton Murfin: in consequence of information received he took John Tomson into custody. He then went in pursuit of the other prisoners to St Albans and Hitchin. He found them both in Hitchin and took them into custody. The taller, George Jackson, began to cry. The other John alias William Jackson gave him a push and told him not to cry as there was nothing to cry for. The prisoners were taken to the police station where they refused to give their names or say anything. Mary Ann Winfield: wife of George and lodger at the Traveller Rest in Back Street Hitchin. On 10 November the tall prisoner, George Jackson, came to the house and asked if she would buy a dress. He claimed to be a licensed hawker. She offered to sell some dresses for him and sold 4 for him. She sold one to Ann Godbold, 2 to Mrs Piper and 1 to Fanny Latchford. She was present when the accused sold a dress to Mary Murphy, who also lodges at the Travellers Rest. All the dresses were of the same pattern. George Cocksedge: Inspector of Police for Hertfordshire. He found 4 dresses; One in the possession of Mary Murphy and 3 in the possession of Ann Godbold. Mary Murphy: a widow who occasionally lodged at the Traveller Rest in Back Street, Hitchin. She lodged there on 9 November and saw the tall prisoner the following morning. He had lodged there the previous night. He said he was a licensed hawker and asked if she would buy a gown, which she did. In the afternoon Inspector Cocksedge came and asked where she had bought then dress. She told him and gave it up to him. Sarah Piper: wife of William of Hitchin. On 10 November she bought 2pieces of cotton print from Mary Ann Winfield. The same evening she gave them to Ann Godbold to take to Inspector Cocksedge. Ann Godlbold: wife of Edward of Hitchin. On 10 November she bought a piece of cotton print from Mary Ann Winfield. She afterwards received 2 other pieces from Sarah pier and took them to Inspector Cocksedge.

item

Jackson, George,
Allen, Joseph,
Hollands, Henry,
Murfin, Alfred Atherton,
Cocksedge, George,
Murphy, Mary,
Winfield, Mary Ann,
Godbold, Ann,
Piper, Sarah,
Latchford, Fanny,
Tomson, John,
Jackson, William

LUTON, Luton Bute Street, Hitchin, Hitchin Back Street, shoemaker, draper, cloth, stealing