QSR1887/4/5/2-4a

Depositions of John William Goodwin, 36 Park Street, Luton, William James Brightman of Luton and Charles Chamberlain of Luton. In the case of James Evans & William Lawson accused of stealing and receiving stolen oats.

30 July 1887

From: 1887 To: 1887

James William Goodwin: he had been for 13 years the manager of R.S. Tomson Corn Merchants, Luton. Evans had been in his employ for 10 years. Evans’s duties were to receive and reload corn from carts. Evans had no authority to sell. He knew Lawson from 3 years previous when Mr Tomson had forbade him from coming to the premises. From information received on 26 July he kept watch from the GNR station on the corn warehouse in Bute Street. About 7.10pm he saw Evans go to the warehouse, then come out and go to the Cowpers Arms public house next door. Evans came out and then stood by the warehouse door. About 7.30pm Lawson came down the railway steps, he stayed on the steps and looked about. Evans signalled to Lawson. Lawson went into the warehouse with an empty bag under his arm. At 7.38pm Lawson came out with something inside the bag and he went up Bute Street and turned into John Street. He went down the street and met Evans and asked him what Lawson had taken from the warehouse. Evans replied “nothing”. When challenged Evans said Lawson had nothing from them.. He followed Lawson and caught him in John Street and asked him what was in the bag. Lawson said it was something he had bought but Goodwin said it was from the warehouse. Lawson said he had it from Nicholls and would take it back to him. They went back to Bute Street and Goodwin told Lawson he knew what had happened. Lawson asked for forgiveness and said he would not do it again. Goodwin said he could not and would take Lawson to Mr Tomson. They went to Mr Tomson who instructed Lawson to tell the police. Lawson begged for forgiveness and promised not to enter the premises again. The police were informed and the bag was found to contain oats worth 2 shillings. Lawson had never been a customer. William James Brightman: a butcher and grocer in High Town Road. He knew the prisoner Lawson and on Tuesday morning whilst going into his yard, he saw the prisoner coming out of the store room. He asked Lawson what he was up to and Lawson said he had been emptying a bushel of barley into his place. Brightman said he did not want the barley but Lawson said he was in trouble as he had oats he ought not have. He was told to take the oats but he did not. Lawson ran away. The barley was taken by the police. Lawson used to work for him and had at time been in the slaughter house. PC Charles Chamberlain: he apprehended Evans on 26 July at 9am at Mr Tomson’s warehouse. Tomson made not reply to the charge. At 6.30pm he apprehended Lawson at Hatfield and charged him. Lawson said he hd not stolen the oats but had promised 2 shillings for them. Statement of the accused: James Evans – Lawson came down and said he wanted a bushel of oats for a particular man. Evans said he daren’t let him have it but Lawson said “go on it won’t take a minute putting them in a bag I’ll soon be off with them”. He put them in the bag and Lawson went away, saying he would return and pay for them. William Lawson – he had heard what Evans said and he had said no such thing. He went down and Evans put them in the bag. Lawson said he would call and pay.

item

Lawson, William,
Evans, James,
Goodwin, John William,
Brightman, William James,
Chamberlain, Charles,
Tomson

LUTON, Luton Park Street, stealing, oats, receiving stolen goods, Luton Bute Street, grocer, butcher, corn merchants