QSR1858/4/5/2

Depositions of John Smith, labourer of Warrington, Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton and George Glenister, hostler of Luton. In the case of Joseph Everill accused of stealing a sovereign.

2 August 1858

From: 1858 To: 1858

John Smith: the prisoner had been at work with him for about 8 weeks. On 30 July they went together to Luton and slept at the Shoulder of Mutton. Before he went to bed he pulled his purse out and counted his money to it was all right. There was 2 sovereigns and a half and 16 shillings in silver. He asked the hostler from the Red Lion to see how much money there was. He put his purse in his trousers and put his trousers under his pillow. The prisoner slept in the same bed. On Saturday morning he went with the prisoner to the Red Lion where their kit was. They were going to part. He pulled out his purse to pay for something. The prisoner had gone out for a minute or two and when he returned he told him he had missed a sovereign. He accused the prisoner of stealing it. The prisoner turned out his money and counted it before him. The prisoner said he may also examine him but Smith said he would call for a policeman. He was present when the policeman searched the prisoner and the hostler. The sovereign was found in the prisoners stocking between his foot and stocking. PC Richard Lambert: on 31 July he was sent to the Red Lion. The prisoner was given into his custody. He searched the prisoner and found a sovereign between his stocking and his right foot. He asked him how it came to be there and the prisoner replied he knew nothing about t. The prisoner had other money. George Glenister: hostler at the Red Lion in Luton. On Friday night he had gone with Smith and the prisoner to the Shoulder of Mutton to show them where they were to bed. Smith said he would like him to see the money he had and counted it in his presence. There were 2 sovereign and a half in a purse and some silver. He saw Smith put it back in his purse. The next morning the men were at the Red Lion before he got there and the prisoner said he had lost a sovereign. Smith said it could not be a stranger that had done it. He went to the Shoulder of Mutton to see if it was about the bed but it could not be found. He then went back to the Red Lion and told Smith he should call for a policeman. The policeman came and searched the prisoner and the prisoner turned out his money before he was searched was it was all the money he had. The policeman found a sovereign in the prisoners stocking. It was the prisoner’s right foot and he pulled off that stocking much slower than he had the other. Statement of the accused: after they had done their work they put their money right and he saw nothing more of Smith’s money. He had his own money and thought it proper to put his own money anywhere. With regard to the sovereign being there he could not account for why it was there. He had nothing more to say.

item

Everill, Joseph,
Smith, John,
Lambert, Richard,
Glenister, George

Warrington, LUTON, stealing, Luton Red Lion, Luton Shoulder of Mutton