QSR1872/3/5/1

Depositions and examination - Albert Rust, charged with stealing 2 suits of clothes value 25s on 25 January 1872, the property of Isaac Harris and William Kennington, 2 paupers lodging in the Dunstable Tramp Ward.

15 May 1872

From: 1872 To: 1872

William Boyce, superintendent of the Dunstable Tramp Ward – on 24 January Rust with 3 associates was admitted to lodge in the Tramp Ward. The next morning they were gone. Two suits of clothes belonging to Isaac Harris and William Kennington were missing. The window frame was nearly pulled out and 2 bars sprung. On referring to his books he found the names of the 4 men were entered as William Smith, John Smith, Edward Potter and Thomas Smith. John Smith was the name given by Rust, who has been at the Tramp Ward over a dozen times and has often given different names. John Kelly – he is a working man now staying in Dunstable. He knows Rust. On 14 January Rust was in the Dunstable Tramp Ward with him. Rust had three boys with him. He knows Rust under the names of William White and John Smith. Rust’s nickname is Yankey. He and several others were present with Rust in a lodging house kept by a man known as Bicester Bob in Oxford. There was a conversation when someone said he was surprised Yankey was so bold as to come into Oxford after what he had done. Rust said he dare come into Oxford, Dunstable and Uxbridge at any time he chose and didn’t care a d—n about anyone. Rust said he and his 3 boys had taken the clothes from a donkey and another man from Dunstable Tramp Ward and that the biggest of his boys slept between the two men who were robbed. He heard Rust speak of the affair in the same way at High Wycombe. Rust spoke in a bragging manner. Rust is in the habit of taking the 3 boys about with him. [Cross-examination] He has stopped several times in lodging houses with Rust at High Wycombe, Elephant & Castle, Oxford and Dunstable. Albert Rust – the last witness is giving evidence through spite about a young girl. Kelly stopped at the Elephant & Castle with him at High Wycombe but never stopped with him at any other place.

item

Rust, Albert,
Harris, Isaac,
Kennington, William,
Boyce, William,
Kelly, John

DUNSTABLE, Oxford, Uxbridge, High Wycombe, Southwark Elephant & Castle, vagrancy, stealing, clothing, Poor Law Union Workhouses