QSR1854/4/5/9

Depositions of William Cotchin of Luton, William Beckley of Luton and George Golds of Luton. In the case of Ann Langley accused of stealing a piece of bacon.

21 August 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

William Cotchin: on 19 August about 10pm he was looking out of his sitting room window which was opposite Mr Pledge’s shop in High Town, Luton. He saw the prisoner go into the shop and she put herself against where the meat lay on back counter. She took a piece of bacon and put it under her shawl. Cotchin went over and called out Mr Beckley who managed the shop for Mr Pledge and told him what had happened. Cotchin’s son was sent for a constable. William Beckley: he managed Mr Pledge’s grocer shop at High Town. On Saturday night Mr Cotchin came and told him the prisoner had taken a piece of bacon. He charged her with it and took hold of her arm. She dropped the bacon from under her shawl and fell at her feet. The bacon corresponded with the bacon he had in his shop and he believed it Mr Pledge’s property. Gold the parish constable came and the bacon was weighed in his presence. The prisoner was given into his custody. George Golds: parish constable of Luton. He was sent for at Mr Pledge’s shop in High Town. Mr Beckley gave the prisoner into his custody. The prisoner said she saw nothing of the bacon until it dropped at her feet. Statement of the accused: she had been standing talking to a woman very near the counter and she thought she may have knocked it down with her shawl. She did not know whether she did or not. She saw it on the ground.

item

Langley, Ann,
Cotchin, William,
Beckley, William,
Golds, George,
Pledge

LUTON, stealing, bacon, grocer's manager