QSR1853/2/5/7/a

Depositions of Edward Yates, victualler of Luton, Edward Godfrey, Superintendent of Police of Luton and Alfred Atherton Murfin, police constable of Luton. In the case of Edward Gooch accused of stealing half a crown, a shilling and a sixpence.

26 March 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

Edward Yates: keeper of the Richard the Third public house in Luton. On 23 March he had some half crowns and other silver in a cash box, in a cupboard, behind the counter of the bar. The prisoner came into the bar about 11 o'clock at night and Yates had occasion to leave the bar. He left the prisoner there by himself and when he returned the prisoner had gone. He was the last customer in the bar that night. He missed 3 half crowns from the box, after the prisoner had gone. He called constable Murfin the next day and he marked some money and put it into the box. Constable Murfin came that night and watched the bar through a small door leading from the bar to the back parlour. The prisoner was in the tap room. About 9 o'clock, he checked the cash box and found some of the marked money had gone. The fetched the prisoner and Constable Murfin searched him. They found a half crown, shilling and sixpence, all of which had been marked. Edward Godfrey: went to Mr Yates's house on 24 March and saw him mark 22 pieces of silver and put them in the cash box. He then bored a hole in the parlour room door so that Constable Murfin could watch the cash box through the hole. A few hours later the prisoner was brought to the station. Alfred Atherton Murfin: on 24 March he went with Superintendent Godfrey to Mr Yates's house. He saw the 22 pieces of silver marked and put in the money box. At night he returned and watched the bar through a hole in the door. He saw the prisoner come into the bar and after Yates left the room, Gooch reached over the counter, into the cupboard ad took some money from the money box. Gooch left the room for the skittle ground. He told Yates what had happened and he checked the money box. Yates fetched the prisoner and he was searched. The marked money was found in his left trouser pocket. The prisoner turned very pale and said he was a ruined man. The prisoner said that if Murfin had seen him take it, there was no point in denying it.

item

Gooch, Edward,
Yates, Edward,
Godfrey, Edward,
Murfin, Alfred Atherton

stealing, money, LUTON, brewers, victuallers, Luton Richard III