QSR1889/1/5/1

Depositions of John Sinfield of Luton, Charles Panter of Luton and George Burgess of Luton. In the case of Joseph Holland accused of stealing a quantity of potatoes.

8 December 1888

From: 1888 To: 1889

John Sinfield: gardener to Frederick Simpson of Farley Hill, Luton. On 7 December about 5pm he saw his master’s potato pit was safe and about 8am the next morning it had been disturbed and a quantity of potatoes taken away. The potatoes produced matched were the same sort as those taken from the pit. There were about 4 bushels which he valued at 12 shillings. PC Charles Panter: a police constable stationed at Slip End, Caddington. About 9.50pm on 7 December he had been going up White Hill in Luton when he met William Houghton and Joseph Holland. They were carrying bags on their backs. Asked what they had in the bags, Holland replied “taters” which he had got from a man who had asked him to carry them for him. Panter took him into custody on suspicions of stealing the potatoes. Holland became violent and Panter called upon passers-by to assist in getting him to the station. He then went to Houghton’s house in Chase Street with PC Burgess and apprehended Houghton. Houghton was charged but made no reply. Holland said “William here asked me to help carry them, I don’t know if whether they were stolen or not”. Panter went back up London Road to fetch a bag he had left behind and on looked in the direction Houghton had left, he saw new buildings, the property of Mr Allen. Inside he found a second bag of potatoes. Later at the police station Holland called Panter to his cell and swore he had not stolen them but had met Houghton on White Hill and had been asked to carry the potatoes. On the Saturday morning at the police station, Holland was brought to the Guard Room to have his description taken and asked if it had been found where the potatoes had been stolen from. [Margin note] Houghton was convicted by consent by the Luton Borough Bench on Saturday 8 December 1888. PC George Burgess: On 7 December he assisted PC Panter in arresting William Houghton and charged him with stealing potatoes. Houghton was taken to the station and in his presence Holland said Houghton had asked him to carry on of the sacks. Burgess made enquiries on 8 December and found Frederick Simpson to have had his potato pit opened during the night of 7 December. Statement of the accused: “I am innocent of this job”.

8 pages

item

Holland, Joseph,
Sinfield, John,
Panter, Charles,
Burgess, George,
Simpson, Frederick,
Houghton, William

LUTON, Luton Farley Hill, Luton Chase Street, stealing, potatoes