QSR1844/4/5/13

Depositions - Edward Chipperfield

23 September 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

Edward Bassill of New Mill End, Luton – on Saturday 21 September he was at Luton. Chipperfield and two other young men came out of the Wheatsheaf. One of them caught hold of his arm and began telling him that they had been turned out of the public house when they had plenty of money to spend. He asked him several times to let him go but he would not. William Samuels then told him they had got his handkerchief. All 3 went away. He followed Chipperfield and caught him by the Post Office. Chipperfield said he would knock him down if he did not let him go. Chipperfield had a stick in his hand (now produced). He said he would not let him go unless he gave up the handkerchief. Chipperfield said he had not got it. He saw something in Chipperfield’s pocket which he thought wqs the handkerchief. Chipperfield got away and ran behind a caravan. He saw him drop the handkerchief and picked it up. Mr Southam and Mr Austin took hold of Chipperfield, who hit Mr Southam with the stick and ran away up a a yard where he was later taken. The handerchief produced is his. William Samuesl of Luton, wheelwright – he was going down the street at Luton near the Post Office and saw Edward Bassill coming up the path with 3 young men by the side of him. They were talking to Bassill. Whilst the other two were talking he saw Chipperfield take Bassill’s handkerchief out of his pocket. He told Bassill who went after the prisoner. Bassill and he went up to Chipperfield and charged him with taking the handkerchief, which he denied. Messrs Southam and Austin were coming past at the same time. He told Mr Southam. Chipperfield then ran away. He saw him throw the handkerchief down underneath the wheel of a caravan. Bassill picked it up. He is sure the prisoner is the same man. Mr Southam took hold of him and the prisoner struck him with a stick then ran up Mr Brown’s yard. William Alfred Southam of Dunstable – he was at Luton near the Post Office. Samuels called to him and said “this man has picked this young man’s pocket of a handkerchief”. He said “why don’t you send for a policeman and take him to the cage. He went up to them and the prisoner bolted up between 2 caravans. He saw Chipperfield unbutton his trousers , pull out the handkerchief and throw it away. Chipperfield then said they might search him. He told Chipperfield he would take him to the cage and collared him. Chipperfield then struck him with the stick across the shoulder and knuckles. Charles Austin wrested the stick from him. Chipperfield ran away up Mr Brown’s yard, turned into the hovel and threw himself on some straw. He went after a policeman, leaving the prisoner in charge of Mr Austin and 2 or 3 others. His trousers were unbuttoned then and when they got him to the cage. John Millard of Luton, police constable – the handkerchief produced was given to him by Edward Bassill on Saturday. He found the prisoner in the hovel up Mr Brown’s yard with his trousers unbuttoned. Chipperfield asked what he was being taken to the cage for and if he was going to lock him up for being drunk. He said it was because he had stolen a pocket handkerchief.

item

Chipperfield,
Bassill, Edward,
Samuels, William,
Southam, William Alfred,
Austin, Charles,
Millard, John

LUTON, New Mill End, stealing, handkerchief, wheelwright, police constable, Luton Wheatsheaf