QSR1844/1/5/18

Depositions and examination - Thomas Wells, charged with stealing books belonging to the Marquis of Bute

16 November 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

John Farr of Luton – he was in the Harrow public house at Kingsborn Green last Saturday night (November 11). James Crawley of Kingsborn Green and Thomas Wells were there. Thomas Wells offered 3 or 4 small books for sale, one of them for a pot of beer. Nobody bought any of them and he put them in his pocket again. William Lister –he resided at the Marquis of Bute’s some years ago. He was chaplain and librarian. He left Luton between 4 and 5 years ago. He has not a shadow of doubt that two of the books produced were there at that time – one of them is in a style of binding peculiar to the black leather books they had there. He believes he can recollect in what case the other stood. The style of binding is peculiar to a set of books they had which are called Elgevers. It contains a coat of arms of James Earl of Bute which show it belongs to that library. Amelia Smith, wife of Thomas Smith – she lives at the Harrow at Kingsborne Green. She saw Wells there last Saturday with 2 books. One was a small one similar to the one produced. He offered one of them for a pot of beer. Nobody bought them. Matthew Tomalin of Harpenden – last Saturday between 10 and 11am he was going to Lord Bute’s. Wells got into his cart and they went to the stables. He left his horse and cart there for 2 or 3 hours. The books were then unloading at the stables. He left Wells in the midst of them and did not see him afterwards. He had seen Wells the evening before at the fire. He was present when the books were found at Wells’ lodgings room. Wells at first denied having any books. Thomas Wells – he found the books on Saturday night as he was going home, a little way from the Lodge opposite the kennels along the road. They were put one after the other along the road as if laid to catch [??]. William Ashton of Luton, superintendent of police – from information received he went to Harpenden and apprehended Wells on suspicion of stealing books. He asked Wells what he had done with the books he offered for sale on Saturday night. Wells said he had no books. He then went to a house in Harpenden kept by Richard Dens where Wells lodged. He asked Dens’ wife if Wells ahd brought any books home lately. At first she said she did not know. He then searched the room where she was sitting and in a table drawer he found the books he now produced. He asked her who the books belonged to. She said Wells brought them home on Saturday night. She said she asked Wells where he got them from he told her to mind her own business. One of the books had the name of the Earl of Bute within it.

item

Wells, Thomas,
Stuart, John Crichton (2nd Marquis of Bute),
Farr, John,
Crawley, James,
Lister, William,
Smith, Amelia,
Smith, Thomas,
Tomalin, Matthew,
Ashton, William,
Dens, Richard

LUTON, Luton Hoo, Luton Kingsbourne Green, Harpenden, stealing, books, Luton Harrow, publican, police superintendent, FIRE, Luton Hoo