QSR1871/3/5/1

Depositions and examination - James Leach charged with stealing one cash box value 2s 6d and 2s 6d in money from Kate Litchfield at Luton on 21 February 1871

10 April 1871

From: 1871 To: 1871

Kate Litchfield of Luton, grocer – she manages her brother’s business as a grocer. She lives in Brown Brick Luton. On 21 February she was in her sitting room about 7 o’clock. The door opening into the shop was open. Someone came into the shop and asked for halfpenny worth of doughnuts. She heard someone run out of the shop. She missed her cash box which had been safe 10 minutes before. A man name Fensom later brought her the box and she gave it to PC Jaquest. William Litchfield of Luton, labourer – he is the son of Kate Litchfield. On 21 February he saw Leach about 7pm. Leach came into their shop and asked for a halfpenny worth of doughnuts. He served Leach with them. Leach asked the price of a teapot standing on the shelf behind. He turned round to look at it. Leach took the box and ran out as fast as he could go. Leach ran straight up the side of hteir house. The box produced is the one Leach took. Emma Jeffs, wife of Thomas Jeffs of Luton, carpenter – she lives in Brown Brick Luton. On 21 February someone about the size of Leach ran into an outhouse where she was and said there was a big man after him and he wanted to hide himself. She refused to let him hide there. George Fensom of Luton, blocker – he lives at Brown Brick Luton. About 7pm on 21 February as a result of something Mrs Jeffs said he went to the back of the Chapel and found a box. He then gave it to Mrs Jeffs. David Jaquest of Luton, police sergeant – on Saturday 1 April he received Leach into his custody and charged him with stealing a cash box from Kate Litchfield. Leach said Jack Mariner went into the shop first for it but couldn’t get it. Mariner then put his hands into some brine and stole 3 herrings. Leach then went in and took the cash box. Mariner and Edward Day watched while he fetched it. Leach hid the box at the back of the Chapel in Brown Brick. Leach absconded after the robbery and was apprehended in Ampthill on 31 March. Leach said the box had 1s 11d in copper money. James Leach – “I have been made a fool of for a good while”.

item

Leach, James,
Litchfield, Kate,
Litchfield, William,
Jeffs, Emma,
Jeffs, Thomas,
Fensom, George,
Jaquest, David,
Mariner, Jack,
Day, Edward

LUTON, Luton Brown Brick, stealing, money, grocer, carpenter, blocker, police sergeant, herring