QSR1854/3/5/3

Depositions of Joseph Allen, draper of Luton, Henry Dowse, draper of Luton and George Golds, police constable of Luton. In the case of Henry Bennett accused of stealing 2 silk handkerchiefs.

20 April 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Joseph Allen: on 19 April the prisoner came to his shop about 7.30pm and asked to see some silk handkerchiefs. They were shown to him and Bennett said he was a hawker and wished to buy 6 or 8. Allen could tell by Bennett’s manner that he was not accustomed to trade and believed him to have some other objective in buying them. The prisoner left the shop suddenly without paying for the goods under the pretence of fetching the money but he did not take the goods with him. Allen was suspicious of the man and sent his lad round to several drapers’ shops to caution them. The lad returned saying the man was at Mr Beales looking at some silk handkerchiefs there. Allen went to Mr Beales. The prisoner was leaving Beale’s shop under the same pretence of fetching money. Allen stopped him and asked what he had in his pocket. He took the prisoner into the shop and told him to empty his pockets. The prisoner pulled out 2 silk handkerchiefs. He asked the prisoner where they were from and the prisoner said Hitchin. Allen believed that from their appearance they were from a draper in the town. He told the prisoner he would take him to the draper’s shops in town to beg any pardon. The prisoner, Bennett, said he hoped for forgiveness as he would not have done it should he not have been hard up. Beale’s young man fetched the police. Allen was present when Mr Harrison’s young man identified the handkerchiefs as his property. The prisoner was taken into custody. Henry Dowse: assistant to Mr Charles Harrison, a draper in Luton. About 6pm the prisoner came to Mr Harrison’s shop and asked to look at some silk handkerchiefs. He showed him some and the prisoner selected some. He then asked to look at braces and nightcaps. The prisoners choose 6 pairs of braces and then told Dowse to make the bill out. The prisoner said he was going to the Cricketers and would call again and pay for them. The prisoner left the things he had selected. Whilst in the shop, the prisoner took out his handkerchief and rubbed his hands and put it on the counter once or twice. There were several silk handkerchiefs on the counter at the time. After the prisoner had left the shop Dowse was fetched to Beale’s where he saw the prisoner and the silk handkerchiefs. He was able to swear to the handkerchiefs being Mr Harrison’s property. They had Mr Harrison’s private mark on them. George Golds: a parish constable in Luton. He was sent for and went to Mr Beale’s shop. The prisoner and the handkerchiefs were given into his custody. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Bennett, Henry,
Allen, Joseph,
Dowse, Henry,
Golds, George,
Harrison,
Beale

LUTON, stealing, handkerchief, draper