QSR1847/1/5/22-23

Depositions - Benjamin Smith and Caroline Smith, charged wtih stealing 2 gold watches and some beads from Charles John Coales

29 December 1846

From: 1846 To: 1847

James Booth of Luton - on Monday 28 December about 7pm he was in his uncle Mr Webdale’s shop in Luton, which is next door to Mr Charles Coales the jewellers. He heard a noise of breaking glass and went to the door of the shop. He saw Benjamin Smith run across the road from Mr Coales window into Peel Street. He ran after him. Caroline Smith was standing at the corner of Peel Street and ran away with him. John Millard of Luton, police constable - on Monday 28 December about 7pm he heard that Mr Coales shop in Wellington Street had been entered and 2 gold watches stolen. He went along the Dunstable road with PC Maffey and about 2 1/2 miles from Luton they overtook Benjamin and Caroline Smith in company with a boy. Tey searched them and on the female prisoner found the 2 gold watches now produced. They took them into custody and brought them to Luton Cage. Benjamin Smith had his right hand cut and it was bleeding. On one of the watches in the name John Banfield Cheapside London 6343. On the other is W P and D Coales Newport Pagnell 5786. Caroline Smith said she had the watches from Benjamin Smith and knew where they came from. Caroline Smith states she is a single woman but gives the name Smith because she does not wish her relations to know her situation. Charles Maffey of Luton, police constable - [evidence as above]. When they came to Luton Cage Caroline Smith said “I may as well give you all I have got” and took some beads out of her pocket and gave them to him. The beads were washed with gold. He and PC Millard took the property to Mr Coales shop where it was identified by Charlotte Coales. He had seen the prisoners looking at Mr Coales shop window a short time before the robbery. After Benjamin Smith had been in the cage a little time he said “I broke the window and stole the watches and beads for I was hard up and hd nothing to eat”. Charlotte Coales of Luton - on Monday evening she was just coming out of the back room into her brother Charles John Coales’ shop when she heard a noise as if some glass was being broken. She went to the window and found a pane of glass broken and 2 gold watches stolen. She also saw some gilt beads were stolen. During the evening PC Millard and PC Maffey brought some beads and 2 gold watches which she identified as those which had been stolen. One watch was lever and had the name W P and D Coales Newport Pagnell and the number 5786 on it. The other John Banfield Cheapside London and the number 6343.

item

Smith, Benjamin,
Smith, Caroline,
Coales, Charles John,
Booth, James,
Millard, John,
Maffey, Charles,
Coales, Charlotte,
Webdale

LUTON, Luton Peel Street, Luton Wellington Street, stealing, watches, jeweller, police constable, cages