QSR1882/2/5/7-8

Depositions of John Stanton, police officer of Luton, Margaret Hughes, Elizabeth Odell, Sarah Francis Freeman, Ellen Haswell and Sarah Brown, all of Luton, Naomi Waite, Albert Andrews, publican of High Town Road, Luton, George Hodge, bricklayer of Back Street, Luton and George Fensome, blocker of Albion Road, Luton. In the case of Arthur Carter & Joseph Carter accused of breaking and entering the dwelling of Margaret Hughes and stealing quantities of jewellery, other articles, a gold watch and a necklet.

8 March 1882

From: 1882 To: 1882

Naomi Waite: an assistant at the Midland Refreshment Room at the station and she resided with Miss Hughes in Boyle Street. On 21 February she left home at 8 o’clock in the morning, leaving her watch on the mantle piece in the front bedroom. A locket and chain was in a little box in a drawer in the bedroom. She returned to Boyle Street about 10.30pm and missed the articles. Elizabeth Odell: a servant in the employment of Miss Hughes at Boyle Street. On the evening of 21 February she went to Boyle Street about 7pm and when she went into Miss Hughes bedroom she found it all upset. Miss Hughes’ linen box and the box in which she kept her jewellery were open and the jewel cases were on the bed. The drawers were on the floor. Sarah Francis Freeman: a 10 year old residing with her parents in Boyle Street. They lived next door but one to Miss Hughes. On 21 February, she went home from school about 4pm and saw Joseph Carter standing outside Miss Hughes door. She went in and out of their house 4 or 5 times, seeing him each time. In the morning she mentioned it to her parents. Albert Andrews: a publican and keeper of the Blockers Arms beer house in High Town. On 21 February, the 2 prisoners and another man came to the house. The man not in custody asked him to buy a gold watch. He made no answer and was shown the watch and several other things including a silver coin made into a brooch and a gold bracelet. He did not buy any of the items. He was told this wasn’t even half of it. The men were in the house about a quarter of an hour. Ellen Haswell: wife of Charles of the Old Englishman Gentleman of Hitchin Road, Luton. On 21 February, Arthur Carter came to the house with another man, later Joseph Carter came in. They drank all morning and left between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. All 3 returned about 7pm. George Hodge: a bricklayer of back Street, High town, Luton. Whilst in the tap room of the Blockers Arms, the 2 prisoners and another man came in. The man not in custody took a parcel out of his pocket and held it out to the landlord. The landlord shook his head and said he was not interested. He could not see what was in the parcel but heard the man say it was not the half of it. Sarah Brown: wife of Frederick Brown residing at North Street, Luton. Arthur Carter is her son and on 22 February she was shown a key. It was her latchkey which her son always carried in his pocket. Joseph Carter was her brother. George Fensome: a blocker of Albion Road, Luton. On 22 February about noon, he was walking in the Peoples Park. When he was about 50 yards from the Havelock Road entrance he saw something in a handkerchief. He picked it up and opened it. It contained jewellery and other articles. He gave the handkerchief and articles to PC Stanton. John Stanton: on the evening of 21 February he went to the house of the prosecutors in Boyle Street. He found drawers and boxes broken open and on the floor. He received a description of the articles stolen. He apprehended Arthur Carter and charged him on suspicion of robbery. Carter said he knew nothing of it. He was searched and in the lining of his waistcoat a 5 shillings piece and 2 other coins were found. In his sock, a half sovereign was found and in the bottoms of his trousers, additional coins were recovered. Next day he went to Arthur Carter’s house and on the gate post near the back door he found a key which fitted the lock of the prosecutor’s house. Later that day, he was handed the missing items by Fensome. On 23 February, he apprehended Joseph Carter. Arthur Carter said that he and another man had gone inside the house and Joseph had stood outside and watched. Joseph Carter said he did not know what they went in the house for. On 3 March he found the remainder of the property was found in the People’s Park buried in a bank. This was 150 yards from Arthur Carter’s house. Magaret Hughes: manageress of the Refreshment Room in the Midland Station and residing at Boyle Street. On 21 February, she left her house secure at 10am. Her jewellery was kept in a trunk in her bedroom. About 7.30pm her servant, Elizabeth Odell, came to her and in consequence of what she was told, she went home. Her drawers were burst open and on the floor. Her trunk and linen open were open and her jewel case on the bed. The jewellery had gone. She had seen the prisoner Arthur Carter about 4.15pm at the Midland Refreshment Room. He had opened the door and looked in, then walked around and looked in at the window. He had been at her house a few days before seeing to the front door and side door locks. Mr Bond the landlord had sent him to repair the locks. [a full list is included of items stolen]. Elizabeth Odell: [evidence above repeated] Sarah Francis Freeman: [evidence above repeated] Albert Andrews: [evidence above repeated] Ellen Haswell: [evidence above repeated] George Hodge: [evidence above repeated] Sarah Brown: [evidence above repeated] George Fensom: [evidence above repeated] John Stanton: [evidence above repeated] Statement of the accused: no answer

27 pages

item

Stanton, John,
Hughes, Margaret,
Odell, Elizabeth,
Francis, Elizabeth,
Freeman, Sarah Francis,
Haswell, Ellen,
Brown, Sarah,
Andrews, Albert,
Hodge, George,
Fensome, George,
Waite, Naomi,
Carter, Arthur,
Carter, Joseph

stealing, JEWELLERY, watches, publican, carpenter, blocker, bricklayer, breaking & entering, LUTON, Luton High Town, stations, Luton People's Park, Luton Old English Gentleman, Luton Blockers Arms