QSR1846/3/5/12-13

Depositions - Emma Rush and Sarah Lacey charged with stealing a night gown and flannel petticoat from Elizabeth Harbon

4 May 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

Elizabeth Harbon of Luton – the prisoners lodged in her house in Luton. On 1 April she missed a night gown, a flannel petticoat and some other articles. Lacey and Rush had left her house on 31 March. Rush said she was going to St Albans to see after her clothes. Lacey did not tell her she was going. On Wedneday 29 April PC Millard showed her the nightgown produced which is her property, as is the petticoat produced. The petticoat was bound at the top and bottom and had no strings. On the nightgown there is the letter M and two other letters have been picked out. The one she missed was marked with M and two As. John Millard of Luton, police constable – from information he received he went to Rush’s lodgings in Church Street, Luton. She at first denied having any clothing belonging to Elizabeth Harbon. He went upstairs with her into her bedroom and asked if she had a nightgown which did not belong to her. She looked very much confused and took one off a chair. He asked her where the flannel petticoat was and she said she had not got that. She again hesitated and said she had been very uneasy since she took them from Mrs Harbon’s. She said the petticoat was pawned in London along with a shawl. She and Lacey took them out of the house and both carried them part of the way. She believes they went to Mr Platt’s pawn shop at 1, Upper York Street, West End on 6 April. She stood outside the shop while Lacey went and pawned them for 2 shillings. Lacey gave her the duplicate which she destroyed. Joseph Platt of Upper York Street, Middlesex – on 6 April Lacey brought the flannel petticoat and some other things to his uncle’s shop. He let her have 2s on them. She pawned them in the name of Ann Haydon. The petticoat produced is the one Lacey brought.

item

Rush, Emma,
Lacey, Sarah,
Harbon, Elizabeth,
Millard, John,
Platt, Joseph

LUTON, stealing, theft, crime, women's history, clothing, petticoats, police constables, pawnbrokers