QSR1880/1/5/17

Deposition of Thomas Chalcroft, an engine driver of 26 Adelaide Street, Luton, William Olney, of 28 Adelaide Street, Luton, Thomas Morley, police sergeant , Elizabeth Oliver of St Albans and Samuel Brace, Police Inspector of Luton. In the case of Frederick Johnson accused of breaking and entering and stealing 2 coats, 2 waistcoats and other articles.

3 January 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

Thomas Chalcroft: an engine driver residing at 26 Adelaide Street in Luton. On 27 December, he left home just before 1pm, locking the door and seeing the windows were fastened. No-one was left in the house. About 5pm he returned and went in the back door. He saw the window had been moved. He saw a workbox belonging to his lodger on the floor of the back room. He examined the window and found it had been opened. He saw a penknife sticking in the blind roller to stop it from falling. He examined the drawers upstairs and missed his clothes. He missed a coat, 2 waistcoats, a top coat, a pair of brown kid gloves, a pocket handkerchief and his wife’s bed shawl. He went to the back bedroom and found his lodgers box open and clothes lying on the floor. He found a penknife and a book containing tailors patterns of cloth. William Olney: he resided at 28 Adelaide Street and was a blocker. On 27 December, between 1 and 2 pm he was at home and saw the prisoner. The prisoner came to the back door begging, and had a parcel under his arm. He would have had to pass Chalgrave’s door to get to and from his house. Elizabeth Oliver: wife of James living at Wagnall Street, St Albans. She kept a second hand clothes shop and on 27 December the prisoner came to the shop and offered a shawl for sale. She said she did not want it. He said he was hard up and said he would leave it an hour so she could decide what she could do for him. She gave the shawl to Sergeant Morley of St Albans. Thomas Morley: a sergeant of St Albans police. On 27 December he went Oliver’s shop and remained there until the prisoner came. The prisoner also had a parcel containing a black coat and a vest. He asked the prisoner if they belonged to him and he said yes, but the shawl belonged to his wife. The prisoner said he had come from Olive Street, Whitechapel, London. He detained him. Samuel Brace: he went to St Albans and received the clothes. He charged the prisoner with breaking and entering. The prisoner replied that was quite right and he had been to several houses begging and they would give him nothing. He did it for want. Statement of the accused: nothing to say

item

Johnson, Frederick,
Chalcroft, Thomas,
Olney, William,
Morley, Thomas,
Oliver, Elizabeth,
Brace, Samuel

LUTON, Luton Adelaide Street, St Albans, breaking & entering, stealing, clothing, engine driver, blocker