QSR1854/3/5/13

Depositions of Eliza, wife of James Martin, labourer of Luton, Eliza, wife of John Brown, labourer of Luton, Martha, wife of Mark Sinfield, labourer of Luton and Edward Dent, police constable of Luton. In the case of George Adams accused of stealing a wooden washing tray.

8 May 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Eliza Martin: on 5 May she had a washing tray underneath the spout at the end of the house. She saw it there about 4pm but missed it about 10.30pm. She did not see it again until shown it by the police. She was able to identify the tray as her husband’s property. The prisoner had come to her house and opened the door about 10.15pm. She did not see him but he asked where James Brown lived and she had replied next door but one. Eliza Brown: she lived next door but one to Mrs Martin. The prisoner called at her house about 10.15pm and asked if her husband was at home because a man had sent him to borrow a barrow. She asked her husband and he said he would lend it to him in the morning. The prisoner went away. Martha Sinfield: she lived with her husband about 5 doors from the Martins. She knew the washing tray as she borrowed it once a fortnight. She knew it to be the Martin’s property. PC Edward Dent: in consequence of information received he went to George Adams house and found the tray in the back kitchen. Adams said the tray belonged to his old grandmother. He took Adams into custody. Statement of the accused: when the policeman came he asked if he knew anything about a bushel of potatoes as he had heard a young man had brought a bushel of potatoes up to the house. The policeman asked if he was willing to let him look and went into the back house and said that he had found what he wanted. The policeman asked where he had got the tray from and he told him he had it a good while and it was from his mother aunt who died in the workhouse. He had witnesses that he had had the tray for about 5 years. He had lent the tray 2 or 3 times to different parties.

item

Adams, George,
Martin, Eliza,
Brown, Eliza,
Sinfield, Martha,
Dent, Edward,
Martin, James,
Brown, John,
Sinfield, Mark

LUTON, stealing