QSR1878/2/5/2

Depositions and examination - William Lonsdale charged with stealing 2 rolls of flannel value £3 3s from Joseph Burr Vincent at Luton on 1 December 1877

20 March 1878

From: 1877 To: 1878

Joseph Burr Vincent of Park Street, Luton, draper – on Saturday 1 December he put 2 rolls of flannel outside his door, laid open on a box. There was about 25 yards in each piece with different patterns. He saw it outside towards the evening and had not sold any that day. He missed it on Monday morning. On Tuesday 4 December Inspector Brace brought pieces the flannel produced which he identified. Alfred Green of Park Street West, Luton, general dealer – on Saturday 1 December between 6 and 7pm he went into the Greyhound Public House. Lonsdale was there with a quantity of flannel offering it for sale. He bought 2 pieces for 6s 6d, which was the last he had to sell. He sold the smallest piece for 2s and the remainder for 6s. He sold it the next day but was paid on Monday morning. [Cross-examined] “I never met you outside the Greyhound. You did not tell me to keep it out of sight. I thought you got it honest.” John Abrahams of Buxton Road, Luton, tip and lining manufacturer – he saw Lonsdale, Alfred Green and others in the Greyhound on 1 December. Lonsdale was offering plaid shirting for sale and was showing it to Green. Green bought a piece. Lonsdale said he had more at the Griffin and went to fetch it. Lonsdale never came back. He bought 6 yards from Green and later gave it to Inspector Brace. Frederick Parrott of 75 Duke Street, Luton, blocker – on Sunday 2 December he was at the Sportsman in Langley Street between 7 and 8pm. Green came in. In consequence of what Green said he bought the piece of flannel produced on Monday for 6s. He later gave it up to Inspector Brace. Henry Rodell of 4, Keelings Cottages, Albert Road, Luton – he was in the Greyhound on 1 December. Lonsdale came in with 2 rolls of flannel which he offered at 3d per yard. He bought a shilling’s worth and paid for it. He took it home and sold it to my wife for 1s 6d. Maria Rodell of New Town, Luton, wife of Henry Rodell – on 1 December about 10pm her husband brought home some cloth and she bought it for 1s 6d. She pledged it on Monday morning for 2s at Mr Butcher’s. She gave the pawn ticket to the policeman. John Seymour, assistant to Mr Butcher, pawnbroker of Bute Street, Luton. On Monday 3 December Maria Rodell brought a piece of flannel and he lent her 2s on it. William Barton of Waldocks Yard, Church Street, Luton, bricklayer – on 1 December he was in the Greyhound between 6 and 7pm. Lonsdale came in with flannel for sale and said they could have 4 yards for a bob [one shilling]. He bought a piece with the small pattern and gave Lonsdale 3s. Robert Allen of Langley Road, Luton, painter – he was in the Greyhound on 1 December. Lonsdale came in with flannel shirting for sale. Lonsdale borrowed his rule to measure it. He bought the second piece and gave him a shilling for one of the small pattern pieces. Samuel Brace of Luton, police inspector – he produces all the shirting received from the witnesses. He has measured it – there is at least 46 yards. He showed it to Mr Vincent who identified it. Thomas Rowe of Chapel Street, Luton, landlord of the Griffin public house – he remembers Lonsdale coming to his house between 5 and 6pm on 1 December. Lonsdale was not staying there, and did not leave or sell any flannel there. James Pedrick of Luton, police constable – on 1 December he saw Lonsdale at the Midland Railway Station between 11pm and 12am. He was called to prevent Lonsdale going by train to London. He removed him from the station. He followed Lonsdale through the town into the London Road and left him going towards St Albans. On 14 Decmber he went to the House of Detention, Clerkenwell and identified the prisoner. On 12 March 1878 he apprehended Lonsdale at Bow Street London on a warrant charging him with stealing 2 rolls of flannel. Lonsdale said he had made a mistake, was never in Luton in his life, and could prove he was in London all that day. On arriving in Luton while at the Police Office Plait Hall Lonsdale asked “how much did I sell it for do you know”. He said he did not. On the way to the Police Station Lonsdale said “I don’t know anything about it. I found myself in St Albans next morning and I took the first train from there to London”. Lonsdale said the men who bought it were just as bad as they must have known it was stolen. William Lonsdale – “good morning gentlemen I shall call and see you again”.

item

Lonsdale, William,
Vincent, Joseph Burr,
Green, Alfred,
Abrahams, John,
Parrott, Frederick,
Rodell, Henry,
Rodell, Maria,
Seymour, John,
Barton, William,
Allen, Robert,
Brace, Samuel,
Rowe, Thomas,
Pedrick, James

LUTON, Luton Park Street, Luton Park Street West, Luton Buxton Road, Luton New Town, Luton Bute Street, Luton Church Street, Luton Langley Road, Luton Chapel Street, Luton Keelings Cottages, Luton Albert Road, St Albans, Clerkenwell, stations, stealing, cloth, police constable, police inspector, draper, general dealer, manufacturer, blocker, pawnbroker, bricklayer, painter, Luton Greyhound, Luton Griffin