QSR1847/3/5/22/a

Depositions - Thomas Peck the younger charged with stealing a coal hammer from Charles Stockdale Benning

10 May 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

Sarah Arnold of Luton – she is housekeeper to Mr Benning. On Saturday night between 7 and 8pm about 3 months ago a coal hammer was brought to her master’s house from the blacksmith’s. The next morning she missed it. No one came to the back door after that time except the washerwoman and Mr Dancer the butcher’s boy, but she cannot say which one. The hammer now produced is like it but she cannot swear to it. Peck is one of Mr Dancer’s boys who used to bring the meat. William Cain of Luton, blacksmith – he made a hammer for Mr Benning and sent it to him on 13 February. The hammer produced is the one he made, but the handle is now shorter. He knows it by the marks and wedge. John Millard of Luton, police constable – that morning he searched Peck’s house. He found the hammer now produced in the coal hole. He showed it to Peck who said it was his, and that he had bought it and paid for it. He asked Peck who he bought it from and he said it was his business. He showed it to Cain who identified it as the one he had made for Mr Benning.

item

Peck, Thomas,
Benning, Charles Stockdale,
Arnold, Sarah,
Cain, William,
Millard, John

LUTON, stealing, blacksmith, butcher, police constable