QSR1872/4/5/1-2

Depositions and examination - Thomas Wilkinson and Henry Roberts, charged with stealing one purse, one railway ticket and £1 1s 9d from the person of Susannah Robinson at Luton on Thursday 25 July 1872

5 and 12 August 1872

From: 1872 To: 1872

5th August 1872 ------------------------- George Taylor of Luton, police constable – on Thursday 25th July between 3 and 4pm he was on duty in the Agricultural Show Field in plain clothes when he saw the 2 prisoners in the poultry show. He watched them and saw Wilkinson put his hand into a man’s coat pocket. Roberts pulled Wilkinson’s coat tail and they both went out of the poultry tent. He watched them go into the flower show. In a few minutes they came back to the poultry tent. He saw Wilkinson put his hand into another man’s coat tail pocket. Roberts was so close he could not see whether or not Wilkinson took anything out. He then saw James Horn and they both watched them. They went towards some ladies. Wilkinson put his hand into a Mrs Robinson’s pocket, with Roberts close by so he could not see whether he took anything out. A few minutes later he and Sergeant Smith took them both into custody. He saw them both searched. On Roberts amongst other things was £2 1s 3d in money and a railway ticket from Moorgate Street to Luton, and a first class return ticket from Bedford to Luton was taken from Wilkinson, torn or split as now produced. Susannah Robinson of Bedford, spinster – she lives at 15 Grove Place, Bedford. On Thursday 25th she was at Luton Agricultural Show. She lost her purse, £1 1s 9d and a railway ticket. The ticket produced is the one she lost. She split it as she was travelling from Bedford to Luton. [Cross-examined] The money was one sovereign, one shilling, one sixpence and 3 pence in copper. She was leaving the field at 4pm when she was told by a policeman to look out for her pockets. William Roberts of Bedford, farmer – he lives at 27 Ampthill Street, Bedford. On 25th he went to Luton Cattle Show with 5 ladies including Miss Robinson. He took all the railway tickets and gave Miss Robinson one. He marked 3 of the tickets which he gave up to the police. They are all numbered, beginning with 005 and ending with 0010. Five of the tickets are initialled and one is not. Miss Rogers and Miss Cole initialled two of the tickets. 005 is not initialled. [Cross-examined] He saw Miss Robinson split her ticket. 12th August 1872 ------------------------- George Taylor – he watched the prisoners from 2.30 to 4.30pm. They were together during the whole of that time. He took the railway ticket from Moorgate Street to Luton out of Roberts’s mouth. He saw the ticket numbered 005 taken from Wilkinson. [Cross-examined by the Bench] Robert went to the refreshment booth during the afternoon. Frederick Smith of Luton, police sergeant – he received some information and took the two prisoners into custody on Thursday 25 July about 4.30pm. They took them to the police station and searched them. He found the railway ticket produced numbered 005 on Wilkinson and also a railway ticket from Moorgate Street to Luton on Wilkinson. The 005 is a first class ticked from Bedford to Luton. He also found 13s 7½d on Wilkinson. He produced 5 other tickets dated 25 July 1872 numbered 006 to 0010. Three were given to him by Mr Roberts, one by Miss Cole and the other by Miss Sarah Ann Rogers. He charged the prisoners with stealing from Miss Robinson. They said they knew nothing about it. [Cross-examined] Taylor found a ticket in Roberts’s mouth in his presence. Over £2 was found on him – half a sovereign and the rest in silver and copper. The ticket produced is the one found in Roberts’ mouth. George Gee of Luton, police constable – on Tuesday 6 August about 3pm he was near the prisoners’ cells in the lock up and heard a conversation between the prisoners. Water Nash of Luton, blocker – he is a blocker in Inkerman Street, Luton. He was at the Agricultural Show with William Hyde. He observed the two prisoners from about 2pm to 4.20pm. He saw Wilkinson lay hold of a female’s dress and try to put his hand in. Roberts pulled his coat. They walked round the other side of the poultry show. Wilkinson went up to some females and laid hold of one’s dress. They then went to the Refreshment Booth. Wilkinson went up to a young man and laid hold of his coat and tried to put his right hand into his pocket. Wilkinson then went to an old gentleman and took something from his pocket. Roberts was standing behind him all the time and they moved about together. He gave information to Sergeant Smith and continued to watch the prisoners. He saw them in the poultry booth again. Wilkinson tried to put his hand into a female’s dress. They turned back and went to the opposite side of the poultry booth. Wilkinson laid hold of another female’s dress and tried to put his hand in her pocket. Roberts pulled Wilkinson’s coat tail, said something to him and they both left the poultry booth. He saw Smith and Taylor take the prisoners into custody. [Cross-examined] Roberts pulled Wilkinson’s coat every time Wilkinson did anything. He did not see Roberts do anything else. William Hyde of Luton, carpenter – he lives in Windsor Street, Luton. He was with Walter Nash at the show ground. He saw Wilkinson put his hand in several females’ pockets with Roberts close behind him all the time. [Cross-examined] He watched with Nash all afternoon. He did not see Roberts pick any pockets. He saw Wilkinson take a handkerchief from an old gentleman’s pocket. He saw Wilkinson put his hand in Miss Robinson’s pocket and take something from it James Horn of Luton, blocker – he is a blocker in Buxton Road, Luton, He went to the show and saw the two prisoners there and watched them. He saw them go into the poultry tent. He saw the smallest of them put his hand in a gentleman’s pocket and attempt the pockets of several ladies. The other prisoner kept close behind. They went to the flower show and back to the poultry tent. He saw Wilkinson take something from an elderly ladies pocket. [Cross-examination] Roberts kept close behind Wilkinson. He did not attempt to take anything. Ambrose Sutton of the Metropolitan Police, police constable – he is police constable Z91 G for the Metropolitan Police. He knows the prisoners. The one who says his name is Wilkinson is Joseph Powell who has been convicted 6 times of felony. Roberts’s name is Booth. He has been convicted of felony. Thomas Wilkinson – has nothing to say. Henry Roberts – has nothing to say.

item

Wilkinson, Thomas,
Roberts, Henry,
Taylor, George,
Robinson, Susannah,
Roberts, William,
Smith, Frederick,
Gee, George,
Nash, Walter,
Hyde, William,
Horn, James,
Sutton, Ambrose,
Rogers, Sarah Ann,
Powell, Joseph

LUTON, BEDFORD, Bedford Grove Place, Bedford Ampthill Street, Luton Inkerman Street, Luton Windsor Street, Luton Buxton Road, pickpocket, police constable, Metropolitan Police, farmer, police sergeant, blocker, carpenter, agricultural shows