QSR1855/3/5/3

Depositions of James Odell, chimney sweeper of Luton, Robert Hill, labourer of Hitchin, Amy Wesley, wife of Henry Wesley. Richard Izzard, chimney sweeper of Hitchin, Henry Buckeridge, chimney sweeper of Luton and Samuel Loveday, police constable of Luton. In the case of Samuel Bates, accused of stealing 1 soot cloth, 1 brush and 1 scraper.

16 April 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

James Odell: the prisoner Samuel Bates was in his employment on 5 April. He sent him at 6am to sweep a chimney at New Town. Bates did not return that day. When he left the house, Bates had a soot cloth, a brush and a scraper with him. The following morning he went to Hitchin in search of Bates. He found him at the room of a person named Wesley, who was also a chimney sweep. He asked Bates what he had done with the things and Bates said he had hidden them by the side of the road. Later Henry Buckeridge brought them to him and he gave them to PC Loveday. Amy Welsey: wife of Henry Wesley, a chimney sweep at Hitchin. On 5 April the prisoner came to their house and had a cloth, scraper and brush with him. The prisoner said they were his. She told him she was afraid they were not but he made no reply. She told him to return them to where they had come from. Bates went to bed that night and when he got up he took the things away with him. Bates returned about 11am and she told him she was afraid he had not returned the things. Bates said he had not and that he had left them with Odell’s boys. Richard Izzard: he was in the employment of Mr Wesley and was in his house on 6 April when Mr Odell and the policeman came. He heard the prisoner say where he had put the things. He went and looked for them and found them in a field on Offley Road under a hedge. He took them to Mr Wesley’s house. Odell afterwards fetched them. Henry Buckridge: a chimney sweep in the employment of Mr Odell. He went with Odell to Hitchin in search of the prisoner and found him at Wesley’s house. He later received the scraper, cloth and brush and gave them to his master. PC Samuel Loveday: on the night of 6 April Mr Odell gave the prisoner into his custody. Mr Odell also gave him the missed items. The prisoner did not respond to the charge. Statement of the accused: “He made me lay down in the cellar till I caught my death of cold and did not want to stop any longer. He made me go up a chimney without a shirt.” Odell’s wife had money of his but would not let him have it. He had nothing else to say.

item

Bates, Samuel,
Odell, James,
Hill, Robert,
Wesley, Amy,
Wesley, Henry,
Izzard, Richard,
Buckeridge, Henry,
Loveday, Samuel

LUTON, stealing, chimney sweep, Hitchin, child labour