QSR1887/2/5/4a

Depositions of George Brandon of Luton, Frederick Stanbridge of Luton, Sydney Cadwell of Kennesbourne Green, Thomas Oakley of Luton and George Woodbridge of Luton. In the case of George Rowley accused of stealing a pair of blankets and a pair of sheets from the Guardians of the Luton Union.

2 February 1887

From: 1887 To: 1887

George Brandon: Master of the Luton Union where the prisoner was an inmate from September to 24 January when he left. He was able to identify the blankets and sheets produced as the property of the Guardians. The Luton Union mark was on the blankets and the sheets had a piece torn out where the Luton Union mark would have been. They had been hemmed. Roselia Smith: Wife of Daniel[?] Smith, a blocker. On 24 January about 9pm the prisoner came in with a bag and a pair of sheets. He said his missus had given them to him and he asked if he could leave them there. She agreed. In the morning the prisoner’s brother’s wife came and looked at the sheets which were wet and had fresh tears. The prisoner asked them to hem the sheets. She hemmed one and Emily Rowley hemmed the other. The prisoner gave them 3 pence each. Elizabeth Rowley: wife of Alfred Rowley, a carpenter and brother of the prisoner. She went to Mrs Smith’s house and opened the bag and saw the sheets. She asked the prisoner where they were from and he said his mistress had given them to him. One was torn crossways and the other lengthways. He asked them to hem them and gave her 6d to split with Mrs Smith. At his request she went to the pawnshop and about 2s 6d and they lent 1s 9d. She gave the money and ticket to the prisoner and he gave her 6d. Frederick Stanbridge: a pawnbroker’s assistant. On 25 January the last witness brought him 2 sheets which she pawned for 1s 9d. Sidney Cadwell: a blacksmith of Kennesbourne Green. On 26 January he was in the Duke of Cambridge beer shop and Rowley was there talking about blankets. Rowley offered them to him for a shilling and a pint. He saw the ‘Luton Union’ on one and refused to buy them. Thomas Oakley: he was at the Duke of Cambridge beer shop on 26 January when the accused came in. He offered him 2 blankets and he saw ‘Luton Union’ on them. He declined to buy them. The prisoner packed up and left. George Woodbridge: a boot and shoemaker of Luton. On 29 January he went into the lane behind his house and found 2 blankets and other goods by the hedge. He gave them all to PC Horn. Statement of the accused: he stated he was innocent of the charge.

item

Rowley, George,
Brandon, George,
Stanbridge, Frederick,
Cadwell, Sydney,
Oakley, Thomas,
Woodbridge, Thomas,
Rowley, Elizabeth,
Smith, Roselia

LUTON, stealing, Luton Union, Poor Law Unions, Master of the workhouse, pawnbroker, blacksmith, shoemaker, Luton Duke of Cambridge