QSR1881/2/5/3

Depostions of William Chamberlain, police constable of Luton, Thomas Hodge, bricklayer of Wenlock Street, Luton, George Hodge the elder, builder of High Town, John Odell, plasterer of 9 North Street, Luton, Arthur Long, carpenter of Wenlock Street, Luton, and George Hodge the younger, carpenter of Boyle Street, Luton. In the case of George Mead accused of stealing timber and bricks.

12 February 1881

From: 1881 To: 1881

William Chamberlain: on 7 February he had the prisoner in custody on another charge. In the company of Thomas Hodge, he went to the prisoner’s home and found 52 bricks and some timber. The prisoner lived in Upper Wenlock Street. Hodge was building in Havelock Road and Boyle Street. The prisoner was charged with stealing the bricks and timber. The prisoner said he had the timber from Leighton Buzzard and the bricks had been there when he got to the house. Thomas Hodge: a bricklayer in Wenlock Street, Luton. He worked for his father George Hodge and they had been building some houses in Havelock Street and Boyle Street. From time to time they lost building materials. On 7 February he went with the Constable to the prisoner’s house, where they found bricks in a cupboard and the back yard. They were similar to those used on the houses in Boyle Street. [cross examination] Mead had not worked for his father. George Hodge: a builder of Luton building houses in Havelock Road and Boyle Street. He had not sold timber to the prisoner and did not know him. He believed the timber to be his property. John Odell: a plasterer who had worked for George Hodge. At the end of December he had been at work on Havelock Road. He missed a rule. Arthur Long: a carpenter working for Mr Prosser, and living next to the prisoner in Wenlock Street. He met the prisoner on 2 February. The prisoner was going to his house from the direction of Havelock Road. The prisoner had some bricks under his arms. He had also seen him with timber but not like the timber produced. This was the only time he saw him with bricks. He thought it to be Mr Hodge’s timber. George Hodge the younger: a carpenter living at Boyle Street and he had, until recently, worked for his father. He knew the timber produced as he had made the marks on it. It had been at a building in Boyle Street. The wood was 9 by 2, an unusual size. Statement of the accused: he reserved his defence.

9 pages

item

Mead, George,
Chamberlain, William,
Hodge, Thomas,
Hodge, George,
Odell, John,
Long, Arthur

LUTON, stealing, timber, plasterer, carpenter, builder, bricklayer, Luton Wenlock Street, Luton Havelock Road, Luton Boyle Street