QSR1844/1/5/25

Depositions and examination - Charlotte Rooker charged with stealing sundry articles, the property of Thomas Smith

30 November 1843

From: 1843 To: 1844

William Nash of Luton, labourer – he is in the service of Thomas Smith of Leagrave Marsh. Charlotte Rooker is his fellow servant. She gave him a large bundle wrapped in a shawl on Monday night (November 27). The shawl is now produced. She asked him to take it down to Mrs Reed’s and he agreed. Mrs Reed keeps the Three Horse Shoes Public House. He took it and gave it to Mr Reed. Rooker told him to give it to him and tell him to keep it until she called for it. George Reed – he keeps the Three Horse Shoes at Leagrave Marsh. Last Monday night William Nash brought him a bundle from a young woman at Mr Smith’s and said he was to keep it until she called for it. He laid it up in the parlour. The next day in consequence of his daughter in law saying she thought it was too heavy for servant’s clothes he sent to Mr Smith to come down. Smith untied it and sent Mrs Smith down to look at it. Mrs Smith said it contained things belonging to her. William Ashton of Luton, superintendent of police – from information he received he went to Mr Smith’s house on Wednesday morning. At Mr Smith’s request he searched Charlotte Rooker’s boxes but found nothing of Mr Smith’s. He then went to Reed’s house. Reed’s daughter in law brought a bundle downstairs which he now produces. It was wrapped up in the same shawl. Inside were the articles which Mrs Smith has sworn to as her husband’s property. He took possession of the bundle and took Rooker into custody. Ann Smith, wife of Thomas Smith of Leagrave Marsh, farmer – Charlotte Rooker was in her service. She hired her a week after last Michaelmas. One of the sheets now produced she can swear to as her husband’s property – it is marked A. in red silk. The other sheet is the fellow to it but is not marked because her daughter was ill at the time. The pieces of sheet where are cut up are also hers. She knows it by her own mending. The small table cloth is her husband’s property, as are the 2 napkins marked E.S.7 and 9, the pocket handkerchief marked A.S.10 and the pocket handkerchief which is not hemmed. The table napkin marked A.S.3, the glass tumbler, the 2 wine glasses, the 2 night caps, the bedgown, and shirt habit are also her husband’s property. The piece of an old gown is part of an old gown of hers. The pair of silk stockings are her husband’s property. The bundle was shown to her at Reed’s house last Tuesday and she has sworn to the contents. Charlotte Rooker – she never stole the sheets. They were given to her by her master’s son Benjamin Smith. He had misused her several times and he made her a present of them and said he had bought them. He gave them to her instead of money if she would not say anything about it. He told her to send them away as soon as she could and told her where to send them. He said he gave them to her because she was going to be married and he knew she was in the family way. Harriet Reed of Luton – she is George Reed’s daughter in law. On Monday night she saw her father in law receive the bundle wrapped up in a shawl. The next day she went into the parlour and tried to put the bundle in a chair. It was too heavy for her. She then told her mother in law the bundle was too heavy for servant’s clothes, and when he came home for dinner told her father in law the same. On Wednesday the policeman came to their house and asked for the bundle. She fetched it down with Mr Smith’s help.

item

Rooker, Charlotte,
Smith, Thomas,
Nash, William,
Reed, George,
Ashton, William,
Smith, Ann,
Smith, Benjamin,
Reed, Harriet

LUTON, Leagrave Marsh, stealing, household goods, clothing, servant, publican, Leagrave Three Horse Shoes, police superintendent, farmer