- ReferenceQSR1886/2/5/1
- TitleDepositions of William Ward, farmer of Kings Walden, George Silk, publican of Luton, George Barker, sawyer of Harpenden, William Chamberlain, police constable of Luton, David Robinson, porter of Luton, Charles Haines, police constable of Luton and Mary Ann Harris of 9 Stanley Street, Luton. In the case of Arthur Champkins accused of stealing a carriage rug.
- Date free text16 January 1886
- Production dateFrom: 1886 To: 1886
- Scope and ContentWilliam Ward: a farmer residing at Parsonage Farm in Kings Walden. He drove into Luton in his trap and he had a rug with him. He left the rug in the trap in George Yard. It was worth 8 shillings. On returning to his trap the rug was missing. He saw his rug again at the plait hall. George Silk: landlord of the Leighton House in Luton. The prisoner came to his house about 5.15pm and went through the bar into the taproom. The prisoner was carrying a rug under one arm and a bag. The prisoner was supplied with beer and asked if there was a buyer in the room for the rug. He was asking 5 shillings for the rug and was asked how he had come by it. The prisoner replied he had got it from a man up the street for some potatoes and a few shilling which he was owed. Champkins offered it again this time for 4 shillings and Silk purchased it. Next day the police came and he gave them the rug. Champkins had not been drunk. George Barker: a sawyer of Harpenden. He was in the Leighton House when the prisoner came in with a rug and a bag. The prisoner called for a pint of beer and if anyone would buy the rug. The prisoner said he wanted the money badly and the landlord asked where he had the rug from. The prisoner replied from a man in a swap for potatoes and a few shillings he was owed. The landlord bought the rug for 4 shillings. The prisoner appeared sober and he went on with him to the Crown. At the Crown the prisoner asked the landlord to buy some potatoes and he took some more beer. He still appeared sober. William Chamberlain: he apprehended the prisoner on 14th and charged him with stealing a rug from the George Yard belonging to Mr Ward. The prisoner said he had sold a rug but not stolen one, as 2 men had given it to him to sell. The prisoner claimed he did not know who the men were. Chamberlain was also present at the police station when the prisoner had an interview with his wife. The prisoner said that if they found a man named Robinson, he had also been in Bute Street at the time the 2 men had given him the rug. David Robinson: a porter at the plait hall and residing in Holly Walk. He saw the prisoner in Bute Street on the Wednesday afternoon. The prisoner had fowls for sale. Champkins asked the man to whom Robinson was talking if he would buy the fowls, but the man did not buy them. He did not see a rug. Champkins went down the street with the fowls and then came back. The man then bought the fowls for 6 shillings. Charles Haines: he had been in the police office when the prisoner was brought in. The prisoner was left with him for some time. The prisoner said “I wish to god I was dead. If I get a fiver for this I’ll pretend to escape so that I’ll be shot down. I hope to God they’ll kill me.” He went on to say that he had been offered the rug by 2 men but would not buy it so the men allowed him to have it to sell. Statement of the accused: He swore that the rug had been in his possession, on his bed, in England for over 4 months. The rug came from New York and was left on his truck on board hip whilst he went to New York. He could identify it by a mark on it. The rug had been to New York and back with him and he had it for 13 months. It had been in Mr Wetherhead’s house for 4 months. Defence depositions – Mary Ann Harris: mother of the prisoner. She had been to the prisoner’s house and seen the rug on the bed. She believed she had seen the rug with a sewing machine when they had unpacked from America. She had seen a scarlet and black rug in his house.
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