QSR1858/1/5/14b

Depositions of George Smith, police sergeant of Luton and Sarah Banham, spinster of Luton. In the case of Decima Ann Higdon [Higden] accused of obtaining a pair of white bracelets, a pair of black bracelets, a single black bracelet and another bracelet, valued altogether at 2s 8d, by false pretences.

9 November 1857

From: 1857 To: 1858

Sergeant George Smith: on 26 October he took the prisoner into custody on another charge and found the black beads in the shape of a necklace around her neck. He charged her with obtaining them under a false pretence from Miss Banham in Church Street. The prisoner said she had taken them and told Miss Banham that her name was Dillingham. The prisoner said she told her that as she thought she would not be found out. She said she had taken the bracelets home and burnt some of the beads. Sarah Banham: she kept a drapers shop in Luton. On 9 October the prisoner came to the shop and asked for some bracelets for her mother to look at. The prisoner said her name was Dillingham and that she lived in Park Street West. The prisoner had a pair of white bracelets at 8d, a pair of black bracelets at 8d, a single black bracelet at 4d and another bracelet. The prisoner took them away and did not pay for them. She did not see the girl again until she was in custody. The beads produced were similar but she could not swear to them and they were very common. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Higdon, Decima Ann,
Smith, George,
Banham, Sarah

LUTON, false pretences, bracelets, JEWELLERY, draper