QSR1883/2/5/5-7/a

Depositions of Davd Pike, grocer of Wellington Street, Luton, John Day, errand boy of Luton, Charles Hutchinson, engineer & publican of Park Street, Luton, William Pateman, manufacturer of Collingdon Street, Luton, James Custance, confectioner of Chapel Street, Luton, John Palmer, publican of Regent Street, Luton and John Stanton, police constable of Luton. In the case of William Coles, Charles Munn & John Freeman accused of stealing 400 weight of sugar.

8 March 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

David Pike: a grocer in business in Wellington Street, Luton. He was able to identify the sugar by the marks DPL (which stands for David Pike Luton) on the bags and the numbers on the bags which relate to invoice numbers. The bags, full of sugar, were in his warehouse in Stuart Place a day or 2 previous to 8 March. He missed 2 bags about 8.30pm on 8 March. The prisoner Munn was in his employ at the time as a hostler and caretaker of the warehouse and stable. Freeman had been in his employment a fortnight previous and Coles had been employed by him to kill pigs on the same premises. He believed Freeman to be a respectable man until now, and his father was in the same line of business. John Day: an errand boy employed by David Pike. At 6.30 on 8 March he was in the stable adjoining the sugar warehouse in Stuart place. Munn was with him. Freeman came in the back gate and asked after Munn. Munn had just gone out and he told Freeman he would be back in a minute. Munn returned and talked with Freeman. Munn said he was going to take a cart into the other yard. Freeman asked Day to fetch some whipcord from Mr Webdale in Wellington Street. He refused to go as he worried he would get the sack, he was offered a penny but did not go. He then went to the corner shop for some matches and Freeman asked how long he’d be. He said about 5 minutes. On returning he saw someone going through the back gates with a bag on his back, and take it to a cart. The cart drove away. Freeman came in the warehouse and asked him to fetch Munn. Munn was just inside the gate on the opposite side of Stuart Street. Munn and Freeman talked and Freeman said if anyone called or him to say he had gone to Slip End as he was to meet them at a public house. Munn and Freeman went to the Wellington Arms with Day. [cross examination] he knew Freeman well. He had worked for Mr Pike for about 3 weeks. Freeman had been in several times since he had left Mr Pike’s service. Mr Pike had a trap and it was Munn’s duty to look after it. He could not see who carried the bag. Charles Hutchinson: an engineer and publican of the Chequers public house. On 8 March he saw Coles and Freeman together about 5.45pm between Wellington and George Street going towards the Town Hall. William Pateman: a manufacturer of 60 Collingdon Street in Luton. On 8 March about 6pm, Coles called and asked to borrow a pony and cart for about 3 hours. Coles said he was going to move some goods. Coles drove the cart away and returned about 7.30pm, saying he’d want it again the next evening as he hadn’t finished. James Custance: a confectioner of Chapel Street. Coles came to his shop and asked if he could do with2 bags of sugar. He asked what was the matter with them and was told they were a little wet. He asked for a sample which Coles fetched. They agreed a price and the bags were brought to him. A receipt was issued by Coles. John Palmer: keeper of the Prince of Wales beerhouse. About 6.40pm on 8 March, Munn came to the house and called for a pint of beer. Freeman then came in. They went into the yard and talked together. Coles came in about 25 minutes later, and the 3 men drank together. They left together. He had noticed a house and cart outside which Freeman said he was in charge of. He knew Freeman but had not seen Munn and Coles before. John Stanton: a police constable of Luton. He saw Mr Pike on 8 March and received information of a robbery. Mr Pike gave him a sample of the sugar. He apprehended Freeman that night and the following day went to Mr Custance and found the 2 bags of sugar. He compared this sugar with the sample and found them the same. The bags bore the initials DPL. He afterwards apprehended Munn and Coles was apprehended on 15 March. Coles said he knew who had taken the sugar and he made a statement. The prisoners were charged together. Freeman said Coles had told him to draw Munn’s attention whilst he stole the sugar and afterwards gave him 24 shillings and Munn 10 shillings. Munn said Coles had given him 10 shillings and that was all he knew about it. Coles denied the statements of Freeman and Munn.

13 pages

item

Coles, William,
Munn, Charles,
Freeman, John,
Pike, David,
Day, John,
Hutchinson, Charles,
Pateman, William,
Custance, James,
Palmer, John,
Stanton, John

LUTON, Luton Prince of Wales, Luton Stuart Place, stealing, sugar, confectioner, grocer, engineer, publican