QSR1884/1/5/1

Depositions of David Jaquest, head constable of the borough of Luton, Richard Honeybone, watchmaker and jeweller of Park Square, Luton, Richard Henry Honeybone, a schoolboy, George Stocks, carpenter of Lea Road, Luton, John Seymour, pawnbroker's assistant of Inkerman Street, Luton and James Clark, police constable of Luton. In the case of John Joseph Fornby, accused of obtaining a silver lever watch by false pretences.

24 November 1883

From: 1883 To: 1884

Richard Henry Honeybone: a 13 year old living with his father Richard at Park Square, Luton. His father was a watchmaker and jeweller. On 16 November the prisoner came to his fathers shop and said he had come for his watch. The prisoner said his name was Smith. He looked in the case and there was to a watch in that name and he told the prisoner so. The prisoner pointed to a watch in the case and said that was his. That watch was in the name of Stokes. The prisoner said his friend by the name of Stokes had brought in the watch. Fornby asked how much the watch was and was told a shilling. The prisoner paid and took the watch away. Richard Honeybone: the watch had been brought to him by George Stokes for repair. In consequence of information received regarding the watch, he went to Mr Butcher’s pawnshop and Mr Butcher produced the watch. He was able to identify it as the one George Stokes had brought in. He advised the police. Within half an hour he saw the prisoner on the Midland Railway platform. His son was with him and pointed the man out. He spoke to the prisoner asking his name and where he was from. The prisoner gave the name of Fornby and said he was from Liverpool. The prisoner said he knew nothing of the watch and offered to go with Honeybone to the place he had slept the night before. The prisoner was with his wife and child. They all went to the Cowper Arms coffee tavern and the attendant confirmed they had slept there the previous night. They went to Mr Butcher’s shop and the assistant, John Seymour identifies him as the man who had pledged the watch. The prisoner was taken into custody. George Stokes: he had taken the watch to Mr Honeybone for repairs and had not authorised anyone else to fetch the watch from Mr Honeybone. John Seymour: an assistant to Mr Butcher the pawnbroker in Bute Street, Luton. The prisoner brought the silver lever watch to the shop and pledged it for 25s. He gave the name of George Stokes of Chiltern Green. James Clark: a police constable and on 16 November Mr Honeybone gave the prisoner into his custody. He took the prisoner to the police office and charged him, to which the prisoner said eh knew nothing of the offence. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Fornby, John Joseph,
Jaquest, David,
Honeybone, Richard,
Honeybone, Richard Henry,
Stocks, George,
Seymour, John,
Clark, James

LUTON, false pretences, pawnbroker, watchmaker, watches, jeweller, carpenter, Luton Bute Street, Luton Park Square