QSR1880/1/5/7

Depositions of Charles Hollingsworth Hewett, Straw Plait Merchant of George Street in Luton, Walter Hale, prisoner under sentence, William Hales, High Town Road, Luton, David Wootton, police constable of Luton, Samuel Brace, Inspector of Police, Joseph Wildman, police constable of Luton, Frank Arthur Horne of Wellington Terrace, Dunstable, Joseph Blaney, of Inkerman Street, Luton and William Peppitt, ostler of Luton. In the case of John Turner accused of receiving a bale of canton straw and various quanitities of straw plait.

29 October 1879

From: 1879 To: 1880

Charles Hollingsworth Hewett: Walter Hales was his foreman at his Castle Street warehouse. Good were given to Hales from the store room and he had to return and account for the goods at the shop in George Street, 5 or 6 times. He knew the prisoner and had seen him at the shop and he had seen him with Hales near the White Hart. Walter Hales: he had many dealings with John Turner. In May he had spoke to Turner whilst in the White Hart about getting him some cheap plait. He got Turner 2 bundles of white canton plait, that same day and took it to him at the White Hart. Turner asked him to get some more and take it to the Crown and leave it with the ostler. He did this, usually twice a week, between May and mid August. Turner paid him well under its value. Turner visited the warehouse once or twice to say what he waned most and see what Hales could get him. He did not pay Hales regularly and he did so to keep him in his hold. He always gave Horne half the money. Frank Arthur Horne: was employed at Mr Hewett shop and part of his duty was to receive plait from hale and see that it was all right, They were very often a deficiency. An arrangement was made between him and Hale and he received money from time to time. The arrangement commenced about March and ended in August. He knew the prisoner Turner, who had visited the shop. He was a good customer. On 1st or 2nnd of October he came to Horne and asked if he could leave him a bundle or tow of plait at the crown. Horne told him he believed he could and they arranged to meet again. They did not meet again. No price was mentioned. (Cross examination) he had been kept in a cell with Hale but that was after he had given his evidence to Mr Hewett and the police. William Hales: son of Walter Hales and he also worked for Mr Hewett between July and September 1879. He received instructions from his father to take plait to the Crown public house. He took 2 bundles. He did this twice and gave the bundles to the ostler. It was Mr Hewett’s plait and there ought not have been plait taken from the warehouse. (Cross examination) he was not given specific instructions by Mr Hewett to take the plait. Jospeh Blaney: a 15 year old residing with his father at 32 Inkerman Street in Luton. He worked for Mr Hewett and worked under Walter Hale. He was with plait to the Crown public house. William Peppitt: an ostler at the Crown and was in charge of parcels left there. He recalled Hale bringing several parcels which he supposed contained plait and he put them in the loft. John Turner fetched them. He asked Turner if Hales was in business himself and Turner told him he believed he was. (Cross examination) He believed it his duty to ask Turner as he suspected something he did not tell his employer. He had many parcels left with him. Daniel Wootton: a police constable in charge of the Police Station at Luton. Walter Hales and Frank Horne were put in the same cell because they were more than full but not until after they had given their statements. On 25 October Turner was in his custody and had an interview with his wife. He told her Hales had lied and said he had £40 worth. Samuel Brace: Inspector of Police at Luton. On 16 October he apprehended Turner. Turner said had had never had any plait off Hales. Joeph Wildman: took the prisoner Turner into custody and took him to Inspector Brace to be charged. Turner said he had never had any plait off Hales.Statement of the accused: he told the policeman when he came to him that he had never had any plait knowing it to be stolen. Hale had approached him and asked him to buy plait by sample, just as any other dealer would. He bought a bundle or tow from Hale. Hale asked him why he didn’t buy any more and he told Hale he could buy it cheaper elsewhere. He had no further dealings with hale. Hales asked him several times why he wouldn’t deal with him.

16 pages

item

Turner, John,
Hewett, Charles Hollingsworth,
Wootton, David,
Brace, Samuel,
Wildman, Joseph,
Horne, Frank Arthur,
Blaney, Joseph,
Hale, Walter,
Hale, William,
Peppitt, William

LUTON, Luton Castle Street, Luton Inkerman Street, Luton High Town Road, Luton Crown, DUNSTABLE, receiving stolen goods, Straw Plait, ostler, straw plait merchant