QSR1884/4/5/8-9

Depositions of John Burgess, straw plait merchant of West Street, Dunstable, Charles Burgess, porter of Round Green, Luton, James Henry White of Upper George Street, Luton, Charles Hopkins, 68 Park Street, Luton, Arthur Derbyshire, Victoria Street, Luton and John King, police sergeant of Wellington Street, Luton. In the case of Leonard Freeman & Arthur Tomlin accused of stealing 5 bales of straw plait.

1 October 1884

From: 1884 To: 1884

Charles Burgess: a porter living at Round Green, Luton and I the employment of George Warren, Luton. On 13 September, by the direction of Mr Warren, he took 5 bales of the mottled canton plait to Mr Lockhart’s yard in Bute Street for John Burgess. He packed them in a shed and left them there. The bales were marked H.B.H. John Burgess: a Straw Plait Merchant living at West Street, Dunstable. He had just taken a warehouse in Bute Street, Luton belonging to Mr Lockhart. There was an enclosed yard at the back. On 13 September he purchased 5 bales of mottle canton plait from Mr George Warren of Bute Street and ordered them to be sent to the yard. The wrappers of the plait were marked H.B.H. On 19 September the entire plait was missing. James Henry White: lived at Jones’ yard in Upper George Street, Luton and was a bailiff. On 18 September he attended the sale of Messrs Koch in the yard adjoining Mr Lockhart’s. He saw the prisoners Freeman and Tomlin there. He was there all day. He saw a Frenchman talking to Freeman. Freeman asked him to packs some hats he had bought in a sale. He borrowed a truck from Mr Wakes and there were 3 bales of plait on it. The Frenchman ordered him to move them. Tomlin helped him put the 3 bales on the truck. He and Tomlin took them to Freeman’s house. The covers were on when they got to Freeman’s house and they stripped these off when they arrived at the house. Freeman told them they might have the covers. For taking the plait and packing the hats, Freeman gave them 5 shillings each. Tomlin afterwards sold the wrappers to Charles Hopkins for half a crown, which they divided. The bails contained plait and he had no suspicions as to whom the bales belonged. Charles Hopkins: a general dealer of Park Street, Luton. On 19 September Tomlin came to his house and said he had mats to sell. He asked if they were Mr Cook’s had been I the habit of bring wrappers from him. Tomlin said they were his own. He gave him half a crown for them. Arthur Derbyshire: he lived with his father in Victoria Street, Dunstable and was in the employment of John Burgess at Luton. On 13 September he saw 5 bales of canton plait in Mr Lockharts’s yard in Bute Street, Luton. Mr Burgess had just taken over from Mr Lockhart. John King: on 19 September he received information of the loss of 5 bales of mottled canton plait from Mr Lockhart’s yard in Bute Street. He obtained a search warrant to search the premises of Freeman, on 22 September, and found 5 bales of canton in the middle bedroom. There were no covers on them. He found 2 inside mats in the back yard. One of the pieces appeared to have the brand cut out of it. He apprehended Freeman. Freeman said the Frenchman came out and asked if he had room for 4 or 5 bales of plait and he said he would put them in his children’s bedroom. The Frenchman said he would fetch them as he needed them. Freeman said he was guilty of having the plait in his house but not guilty of stealing it. King went to Currant in Mr Lockhart’s who took him to look in the stable where he found some rotten bales taken from a dunghill. Currant said Freeman had asked him to take bales to his house and he had done so in return for a shilling and sixpence. He later charged Currant. On 20 September he saw Sharp who he told of the theft of the 5 bales. Sharp said he knew the bales had been safe there at 6pm and there had been a barrow standing with it but both the plait and barrow had gone the next morning. He later charged Sharp and Sharp apologised for lying to him and said he had taken some boxes up to Freeman. On 23 September he apprehended Tomlin. Statement of the accused: Freeman – reserved his defence Tomlin – not guilty

item

Freeman, Leonard,
Tomlin, Arthur,
Burgess, John,
Burgess, Charles,
White, James Henry,
Hopkins, Charles,
Derbyshire, Arthur,
King, John,
Lockhart

DUNSTABLE, Luton Round Green, Luton Upper George Street, Luton Park Street, Luton Victoria Street, Luton Wellington Street, straw plait merchant, porter, stealing, Straw Plait