QSR1855/3/5/13

Depositions of Francis Biggs, blocker of Luton, Abraham Punter, dealer of Hemel Hempstead, his son, David Punter, Edmund Vincent Wallis, plumber of Hemel Hempstead, his wife Maria and Samuel Pope, superintendent of police of Luton. In the case of John Stonnell, accused of stealing a quantity of lead.

7 May 1855

From: 1855 To: 1855

Francis Biggs: a blocker at Luton. He occupied a house in New Town Street, Luton belonging to John Chalkley. The house had a portico in front which was covered with lead. The lead was painted green; the same colour as the portico. On 20 April he missed the lead off the portico. He had seen it a few days before. He gave the information to the police and on 28 April, he saw the lead put on the portico by Superintendent Pope and it fitted exactly. The lead was of the same kind and painted green. He had no doubt it was the same as the lead he had missed. Abraham Punter: he was a dealer in hay and straw at Hemel Hempstead. The prisoner was his nephew. On 18 April he came to his house and after he had been there some time he asked if there was a rag shop nearby. The prisoner said he had a piece of lead and asked his uncle if he bought such things. Punter said he did and the prisoner said his friend had 2 or 3 little bits. The prisoner said he would go and tell his friend. When he returned the prisoner brought another man with him, who was a stranger to Punter. The other man pulled the lead from his pocket. It was rolled up. He gave them a shilling for it. He gave the shilling to Stonnell. The stranger asked Stonnell if that was aright as John was the head man over it. Punter told his son to take the lead down to Mr Wallis and to sell it. He had no other lead in his possession. He had kept a marine store shop a long time previous and lead was worth about a penny a pound. He was now in the habit of buying furniture and other things at sales. David Punter: son of Abraham Punter and on 18 April his father sent him with some lead to Mr Wallis. He sold it to him. He did not count the money given to him. He believed he had been given 3 shillings, a sixpence and a twopence. The lead was rolled up. Edmund Vincent Wallis: a plumber of Hemel Hempstead. On 18 April, David Punter brought him the lead saying his father had sent him to sell it. He bought it from him and he gave him 3 shilling and 5 pence for it, at the rate of 3 half pence a pound. Punter left the shop and the lead remained in the shop until fetched away by Superintendent Pope. Having some suspicion he questioned the boy and reported to the police that he had the lead in his possession. Maria Wallis: daughter of the last witness. On 28 April she had charge of her fathers shop in his absence. The Superintendent of Police called on that day and she gave the lead to him. She marked it before she gave it him. Superintendent Samuel Pope: he received the lead from Maria Wallis of Hemel Hempstead and had since fitted it to the top of the portico. It fitted exactly. The part which hung over was painted green; the same colour as the portico. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Stonnell, John,
Biggs, Francis,
Punter, Abraham,
Punter, David,
Wallis, Edmund Vincent,
Wallis, Maria,
Pope, Samuel,
Chalkley, John

LUTON, Hemel Hempstead, stealing, lead, plumber, dealer, blocker