Reference
QSR1880/1/5/6/b
Title
Depositions of Charles Hollingworth Hewett, Straw Plait Merchant of George Street in Luton, Frank Arthur Horne of Wellington Terrace, Dunstable, Walter Hale, prisoner under sentence, Joseph Blaney, of Inkerman Street, Luton, Martha Wheatley, widow of Langley Street, Luton and Charles Rogers, police sergeant of Luton.
In the case of David Pearson accused of receiving a bale of canton straw and various quanitities of straw plait.
Date free text
29 October 1879
Production date
From: 1879 To: 1880
Scope and Content
Charles Hollingsworth Hewett: a plait merchant in Luton. Walter Hale was his foreman at the warehouse in Castle Street. Hale had no right to sell plait from Castle Street. His job was to bleach and dye plait and then return it to the shop in George Street. During the previous 3 months his stock was getting lower and he could not account for it. He knew the prisoner Pearson. Pearson had been in his shop many times. He had lately seen Pearson in the shop early in the morning, before he usually went there, and about 4 o’clock after he had his wife would leave. When asked what he wanted an excuse would be made.
Frank Arthur Horne: a plait salesman employed by Mr Hewett until 11 October 1879. He knew Pearson, he would come to the shop. About a forthright previous he had seen Pearson at the shop and he had taken down 6 piece of plait and asked the price. He was told 7s6d and he said he could not give that. Horne offered to take 5s for it. Pearson said all right. He also bought another bundle at the proper price and Horne entered that in the cash book. Pearson came again about a week later and offered 16s for a bundle. Horne refused, Pearson left but return and offered the same price again. This time Horne accepted and Pearson went to get change. On 6 October they met in Castle Street and Pearson said that if he could get him another 2 bundles he would pay £2 for it. Horne said he would see. Pearson told him not to go flash with his money and that as he was older he knew a thing or two. Pearson visited again later and Horne said he could not get him the bundles. Horne said he was not allowed to undercut the cost price without asking his employer and it was plait in ordinary demand. He said he had reduced the price to induce him to buy it. He put the money in his pocket as he had sold it so much under and Pearson knew he was keeping the money.
Walter Hale: Pearson asked him if he could get any plait “on the cheap”. He told Pearson he thought he could and got him 2 bundles of white canton the next day. He took it from Castle Street to Pearson’s back kitchen. He met Pearson again on Market hill and told him he had 4 bundles of white canton plait for him. It was worth 48 shillings but Pearson gave 7 shillings for it. Hale resolved to give him no more but Pearson knew Hale had given bundles to others. He got Pearson 2 bundles. Shortly after Pearson asked for more, and he was going hawking. He gave him 15 shillings up front and it was arranged for the plait to be sent to the Greyhound public house. Joseph Blaney took the plait. He also sent black plait to Pearson’s house with Blaney. He sent him black plait on several occasion, once when it was wet. Hale said he had no authority to sell the plait
(Cross examination) he knew the price of the plait almost as well as Mr Hewett.. He always halved the money with frank horn and he could not do it without his assistance. Horne had access to all the places. All plait given to him to dye and bleach was put in a book. Pearson’s plait did not go in the book.
Frank Arthur Horne: the plaits used to be given out by Mr Hewett and himself to Hale for bleaching and dying. All given out was to be returned to the shop, accounted for by hale and checked by Horne. It did not always come out right. It was arranged between himself and Hale that he should pass the accounts with the discrepancies. This commenced about March and continued until August. He received money from Hale from time to time, the largest amount being a sovereign. He never saw Pearson at Castle Street but he had seen him by the gates and in conversation with Hales at the White Hart.
Joseph Blaney: was 15 years old and employed by Mr Hewett for about 9 months. He worked at the warehouse where hale was foreman. He nor Hale had authority to sell plait. He took plait from the warehouse to Pearson at 13 Ebenezer Street, 5 or 6 times. He was given a penny for taking it. Mr Hewett was never in the warehouse when it was taken. He took plait to the Greyhound and told to leave it there. He had seen Hale and Pearson together at the White Hart.
(Cross examination) he also took plait to a man in Park Lane. He used to fetch beer from the White Hart for Ellis who worked at Hewett’s. Hale directed him to take the plait to Pearson.
Martha Wheatley: used to keep the Greyhound Inn, Park Street West. A lad of 12 or 14 brought a bag of plait to her house. Pearson collected it.
Charles Rogers: he apprehended Pearson on 11 October. Pearson said he had never had plait which he hadn’t paid for. Told of the receiving charge he said “God bless my soul”.
Level of description
item