QSR1870/3/5/2

Depositions and examination - John Crick charged with stealing one pair of trousers value 7s from George William Strange

18 April 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

George Keeling of Luton, draper’s assistant - he is assistant to Mr George Strange of Luton, draper. On Monday 21 March there was a pair of trousers hanging outside his master’s shop in the Market Hill, Luton at about 1pm. He missed them about 2.30pm. They are the pair of corduroys now produced, priced at 7s 6d. Mr Strange’s ticket with the size and mark is on them. He gave information to the police. [Cross examined by Mr Neve for the prisoner] He dines at 1 and was outside looking for Mr Strange to come and let him go to dinner. John Seymour of Luton, pawnbroker’s assistant - he is assistant to messrs Butcher and Frazer of Luton, pawnbrokers. On Monday 21 March about 2.30pm the trousers now produced were pledged by Crick in his shop. He had 3s 6d on them. A young woman called to reclaim them on Saturday evening 9 April. They were stopped as having been stolen. He produces the ticket left by the young woman and the duplicate he retained. The prisoner pledged them in the name of John Crick and gave his address. Charlotte Crick of Tea Green, Luton, spinster - she is John Crick’s sister. She came to Luton with her mother on Saturday 9 April between 7 and 8pm. He gave her half a crown and a 2s piece and a duplicate, and told her to go to the pawnshop in Bute Street and fetch the trousers. She said she didn’t know anything about such jobs. There was another woman with them and she went with her. He had said at home that he had bought a ticket from a man who had some trousers pawned. She went with the ticket to get the trousers but the pawnbrokers didn’t give them to her. She left the ticket there. George Gee of Luton, police constable - from information he received on Saturday night 9 April he went in search of Crick. He found him at Park Square about 8.30pm. He asked Crick if he was the man who had pledge the trousers his sister had been to fetch. Crick said he was. He then charged him and brought him to the police station. Crick then said he bought them off a man in the morning of the day he pawned them and gave 9s for them. He particularly asked Crick the time and he said sometime in the morning. Crick said he did not know who the man he bought them from was. George Burgess of Luton, labourer - on Monday 21 March he was up at the cattle sale in the Market Square. He saw Crick there. Crick came to him as he was looking at the sheep. He first saw him at around 10am and was with him until about 12pm. A man came up and tapped Crick on the shoulder as they stood together and asked if he wanted to buy a pair of trousers. The man had a pair of light trousers on and a black jacket and a case and a bunch of hair on his chin. Crick said he didn’t know as he wanted to buy any. He asked if Crick knew the man, and he said he did not. He went round the corner and left them. When he returned he asked if they were going to deal. There was a woman there tied in a rope, and as soon as she got out he went to Crick He saw Crick give the man the money in his hand. He asked Crick what he gave and he said 9s. He went home to dinner. I was about 12.30pm. He saw the trousers tied up in a handkerchief. [Cross examined by the Bench] He did not see the trousers out of the handkerchief. They looked like worsted cords. John Crick - "I'll leave it to my lawyer".

10 pages

item

Crick, John,
Strange, George William,
Keeling, George,
Seymour, John,
Crick, Charlotte,
Gee, George,
Burgess, George

LUTON, Luton Market Hill, Luton Bute Street, Luton Cattle Market, Tea Green, stealing, trousers, draper's assistant, draper, pawnbroker, police constable