QSR1884/3/5/2/a

Depositions of William Price, a sewing machine agent of 14 Albion Street, Luton, Charles Hutchinson, engineer of 112 Park Street, Luton and John King, police sergeant of Luton. In the case of George Rowley accused of stealing a sewing machine.

14 May 1884

From: 1884 To: 1884

William Price: a sewing machine agent of 14 Albion Street, Luton. On 7 April he took over the business from Mr William Rainbow of 3 Boyle Street, Luton. He found form the book relating to the business that George Rowley of 68 Park Street had hired a sewing machine from Mr Rainbow. The hiring was a simple hiring at 3 shillings a week. The prisoner paid regularly until 1 May. On 10 May he went to the prisoner’s house and asked for the weekly hire. He saw the prisoner’s wife and she informed him that the machine had been returned. The prisoner had not done so. Charles Hutchinson: an engineer of 112 Park Street Luton. On 6 May the prisoner came to his shop and asked him to buy a machine. The prisoner asked 45 shillings for it and it was subsequently purchased for 2 pounds. The prisoner said it was his own and had been bought from the market for 35 shillings and had since been repaired. The prisoner was sober. John King: he apprehended the prisoner on 13 May. The prisoner said he had been drunk at the time. The machine was out outside his house and he did not know who had taken it away or where it was. He had never hired a machine from either Mr Rainbow or Mr Price. Statement of the accused: he had hired the machine from Mrs Rainbow and she had told him the machine was 3 shillings a week until he had paid 5 pounds. When he had paid 5 pound the machine would be his own.

item

Rowley, William,
Price, William,
Hutchinson, Charles,
King, John

LUTON, Luton Albion Street, Luton Park Street, stealing, sewing machines