QSR1874/3/5/4

Depositions and examination - David Hall, charged with stealing one feather bed and other articles of the value of £10 and £2 10s in money from Jeremiah Avis at Sandgate (Kent) on 27 November 1872, and having the goods in his possession at Luton on 8 June 1874

15 June 1874

From: 1874 To: 1874

Jeremiah Avis of Luton, printer – he is a journeyman printer. In November 1872 he was living at Sandgate near Folkestone in Kent with his wife and child. On 26th November 1872 Hall, who is his wife’s brother, was at his house. Hall stayed until the next day (Tuesday) in the afternoon when his wife and Hall left him. A feather bed, chest of drawers, blankets, counterpane, towels, china, ornaments, tea tray, cruet stand, £2 10s in money and other articles were taken away. He has found all the articles but the chest of drawers in Hall’s possession at the Chequers Inn Luton which he keeps. [Cross-examined] His wife was living at Hall’s when he found the good. She was behind the counter. He never refused her common necessaries. The counterpane did not belong to her before marriage. All the other goods did. Thomas Pearless of Sandgate (Kent), carrier – he moved some goods in November 1872 for Mrs Avis at her direction. There was a man and other parties in the house, but he cannot say that Hall was there. He loaded the goods. Mrs Avis is now present. Frank Jordan of Kelvedon (Essex), innkeeper – he first knew Hall when Hall came to lodge at his house the Railway Tavern. Hall came to lodge with a woman and child about 6th or 7th October 1873. They occupied only one bed. The woman passed as Mrs Hall. The same woman is now in court. Elizabeth Susan Medley of Kelvedon (Essex), housekeeper – she is a married woman living apart from her husband. She is housekeeper to Mr Jordan. In October Hall and a woman came to lodge at their house. They occupied one bed and lived together as man and wife. They lodged there for a fortnight. The woman was poorly. Joseph Gadsden of Luton, Bedford – he lodges at the Chequers Inn Luton, kept by the defendant. He has lodged there 8 weeks. The landlady is outside the court. They are mistress and master. Two other young men lodged at the house. There are 3 bedrooms. The 2 lodgers occupied one. Frederick Smith of Luton, police sergeant – on Monday last he searched Hall’s house under a search warrant. He found a bed, 2 blankets, a counterpane, a bolster, 2 pillows, 5 china ornaments, a tea tray, a cruet stand and 5 towels. He found the bed in a front room upstairs. There are 3 bedrooms and one bed in each room. David Hall – the goods belong to his sister, who has acted as his housekeeper ever since.

item

Hall, David,
Avis, Jeremiah,
Pearless, Thomas,
Jordan, Frank,
Medley, Elizabeth Susan,
Gadsden, Joseph,
Smith, Frederick

LUTON, Sandgate, Kelvedon, innkeeper, housekeeper, printer, carrier, police sergeant, stealing, household goods, money