QSR1883/4/5/2-3

Depositions of Emanuel Bates, tailor of 13 back of Gaiskell, High Town, Luton, Charles Barratt, blocker of 48 Cobden Street, Luton, Thomas Whitby, blocker of High Town, Luton, John Seymour, assistant pawnbroker of Inkerman Street, Luton Samuel Kitchener, sergeant of police and Ann Vickers of 70 Hitchin Road, Luton. In the case of Frederick Barrett & John Palmer accused of stealing a blanket and a coat.

21 July 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

Emanuel Bates: a tailor living at 13 Back of Gaiskell, High Town, Luton. On 18 July, he saw Frederick Barratt outside his door between 8 and 9am and went with him to the Old gentleman corner in Hitchin Road. There they met John Palmer and all went into the Old gentleman public house. They afterwards went to the Vine public house along with a young man named Crosby. They returned to the Old Gentleman about noon. Bates left about 2pm leaving the other men there. He went tot his sisters and then home. They he found Barratt at the back door and asked what he wanted. Barratt he wanted his trousers and waistcoat, but Bates said he had never had them. Bates subsequently missed a pair of blankets and a coat. He valued the coat at 30 shillings and the blankets at 17 shillings. He did not give the men permission to pawn the blankets and did not promise to go to Harpenden. Ann Vickers: a single woman residing at 70 Hitchin Road, Luton. On 18 July she saw Frederick Barratt coming form the back of Emanuel Bates’ house at about 2.54pm. About a quarter of an hour later she saw him coming out of the King Harry public house with a blanket under his arm. He went up York Street. Charles Barrett: a blocker residing in 48 Cobden Street, Luton. Frederick Barratt was his son and on 18 July he came home between 7 and 8pm wearing a strange coat. He said to his son “why bless me you do look smart”. Thomas Whitby: a baker living at the Welcome Stranger in High town. On 18 July about 4pm, the prisoners came to the house and Palmer asked him to take 2 blankets to pawn for him. He took the blankets to Mr Butcher the pawnbroker in Bute Street and pawned them under the name of Edward Bates. He gave the ticket to Palmer. John Seymour: assistant to Mr Butcher the pawnbroker. On 18 July Whitby brought 2 blankets to be pawned under the name of Edward Bates. Samuel Kitchener: on 18 July he received information of a robbery. The same night he apprehended 2 prisoners. On the way to the station palmer said he knew nothing about them but he had had some beer. Barratt said he knew nothing of them. Statements of the accused: John Palmer – he was guilty of having the blankets but not of stealing them Frederick Barratt: not guilty.

item

Barrett, Frederick,
Palmer, John,
Bates, Emanuel,
Barratt, Charles,
Whitby, Thomas,
Seymour, John,
Kitchener, Samuel,
Vickers, Ann

LUTON, stealing, household goods, coat, tailor, blocker, pawnbroker, baker, Luton Old English Gentleman, Luton Vine, Luton Welcome Stranger