QSR1854/1/5/1

Depositions of Thomas Smart, bricklayer of Bedford, James Fox, musician of Caddington and William Plenderleath, police constable of Luton. In the case of Benjamin Winterbottom accused of stealing a silk parasol.

24 October 1853

From: 1853 To: 1854

Thomas Smart: a bricklayer and keeper of the Plume of Feathers beer shop at Luton. On 17 October the prisoner was at the house from 8.30pm until almost 10pm. In consequence of information received he kept his eye on the prisoner and when the prisoner left he followed him. He approached the prisoner and asked what he had under his coat. The prisoner said he had nothing, but when asked a second time, the prisoner said he had a parasol. Smart said it was his parasol and sent for the police. James Fox: on 17 October he had been at Thomas Smart’s beer house playing the fiddle. There were several people there. The prisoner came into the house about 9pm and placed himself on Fox’s left side. He saw the prisoner take a parasol, put it in his coat and button the coat up. He told the landlord to look out for the man and he saw the prisoner go into the back yard and the landlord followed. The parasol shown to him was like the one he saw the prisoner take. William Plenderleath: he took the prisoner into custody on 17 October about 10pm. He charged the prisoner and asked the prisoner how he came to have the parasol and the prisoner said it was given to him by a girl. The prisoner said he would not know how to find the prisoner again. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Winterbottom, Benjamin,
Smart, Thomas,
Fox, James,
Plenderleath, William

LUTON, BEDFORD, CADDINGTON, bricklayer, musicians, stealing, Luton Plume of Feathers