QSR1853/4/5/13/a

Depositions of Charles Ellis, sadler of Luton, Sarah Ellis, wife of Charles, Eliza Higgins, singlewoman of Luton and Joseph Slatford, police constable. In the case of John Perkins accused of stealing money from the person of Sarah Ellis.

26 September 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

Charles Ellis: on 23 September he was at Luton Statute Fair with his wife. He went with his wife into the wax work show and he heard his wife callout “you rascal, you are picking my pocket”. The prisoner said “what what”. He pulled the prisoners hand out of his wife’s pocket, and his wife told him he had all her money. He searched the prisoner and sung out for the police,. He took the accused outside the show and did not let go of him until he delivered him into the custody of the police. Sarah Ellis: had been with her husband in the wax show and saw the prisoner in there. He was standing close to her. She felt his hand in her pocket. She took hold of his wrist and called her husband. She had half a crown, 4 shillings, a penny and a half penny in her pocket. She afterwards felt in her pocket and all the money except the penny had gone. Eliza Higgins: had been with Mr and Mrs Ellis at the wax work show and saw the prisoner there. He was standing next to Mrs Ellis. She was on Mrs Ellis’s left hand side and he was on her right. She saw his hand in her pocket. She heard her say “you are picking my pocket” and she called out to Mr Ellis. Joseph Slatford: Mr Ellis gave the prisoner into his custody for picking his wife’s pocket. On searching him he found 12 shillings, half a crown, a 2 shilling piece, 3 sixpences, a four penny piece, a three penny piece and 14 pence and 3 farthings in copper.

item

Perkins, John,
Ellis, Charles,
Ellis, Sarah,
Higgins, Eliza,
Slatford, Joseph

stealing, sadler, pickpocket, coins, hawker, LUTON, trade & industry fairs