QSR1857/4/5/11-14

Depositions of William Sargood, baker of Luton, Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton, George Smith, police sergeant of Luton and Eliza Evans, spinster of Luton. In the case of Albert Brooks, accused of stealing a silver watch and Reuben Matthews, James Walker and Henry Menders accused of aiding and abetting Albert Brooks in the theft of the watch.

28 September 1857

From: 1857 To: 1857

William Sargood: on the morning of 20 September, the prisoner Brooks came to his shop and asked for half a quartern loaf. He gave him the loaf and Brooks paid with a shilling. He went upstairs to get change leaving the prisoner in the passage. When he gave Brooks the change he seemed confused and he suspected something was wrong. The parlour door opened into the passage where Brooks was. About 2 minutes later he missed his silver watch from the mantle piece in the parlour. No person other then the prisoner had been in the shop or parlour since he last saw the watch safe. The watch was worth about a £1. He was shown part of a loaf by Police Sergeant Smith which he identified as one of his loaves as it had his mark on the top. PC Richard Lambert: he went to the Wrestlers beer shop and Brooks was there in the company of the other 3 prisoners. He charged Brooks with stealing the watch but he claimed to know nothing of it. He searched Brooks and found nothing. Brooks said he had nothing to do with the other men and was travelling about the country by himself. After the other prisoners were brought to the police station he asked Brooks if he still meant to deny it. Brooks replied there was no use in denying it but he did not see anyone take it. The watch had been found at this time. He had gone with Sergeant Smith to the Highlanders beer shop to watch for the other 3 prisoners leaving the town. One of the prisoners had a bundle which Smith searched and he found part of a quartern loaf. He saw a hole had been cut out of the loaf and the watch was secreted in the hole. Sergeant George Smith: on 20 September he was sent with 2 constables to the Highlanders beer house to watch for the 3 other prisoners leaving the town. Brooks was in custody. The prisoners appeared and were taken into custody. They denied the charge. He searched the bundle prisoner Matthews had been carrying and found part of a quartern loaf of bread. He found the watch concealed in a hole cut out of the loaf and covered over with a piece of bread with some butter spread on it. Matthews said the bread did not belong to him but to Brooks. He afterwards said he had put the watch in the loaf but did not know who it belonged to. Matthews said he had known Brooks about a fortnight. Walker said he knew nothing of the watch nor Brooks, only that he had travelled with him. Menders said the same. He had seen all the prisoners together on the night of 19 September. Eliza Evans: she lived at the Wrestlers beer house in Luton. On 18 September the 4 prisoners came to lodge at the house. They slept in the same room together and had their meals together. On the Sunday morning, Brooks went out to buy a loaf and came back a few minutes later with it. The police came soon after and took Brooks into custody. The other 3 prisoner had their breakfast off the loaf and left the house about an hour later. Statements of the accused: Alfred Brooks – he begged for mercy. He had never been in trouble before. He did it from want and was guilty of the charge. Reuben Matthews – he knew nothing about the watch and did not know it was in the bread. He had not put it there. The bread was in the cupboard in a little back kitchen. He fetched it and put it in the bundle and went to meet his master. Brooks told him, after they were in custody that he had put the watch in the bread. He told Lambert the same. Henry Menders – he knew no more about the loaf than they did at the public house. James Walker – he knew nothing about it and was innocent. He had never seen Brooks before in his life.

item

Sargood, William,
Brooks, Albert,
Matthews, Reuben,
Walker, James,
Menders, Henry,
Lambert, Richard,
Smith, George,
Evans, Eliza

LUTON, baker, stealing, watches, beerhouses, Luton Highlander, Luton Wrestlers