QSR1847/3/5/43

Depositions - William Armstead, charged with robbery on the highway and stealing an umbrella from the person of Charles Smart

23 June 1847

From: 1847 To: 1847

Charles Smart of Newbold upon Avon (Warwicks), railway sub-contractor – on Tuesday 22 June he was walking from Hitchin to Luton. He called in at a public house at Stopsley because a shower came on. About 5 minutes later Armstead came in and began to abuse him. He told Armstead he knew nothing of him and he had better be quiet. He had ½ pint of ale in the public house. When the rain was over he went on towards Luton. About 200 yards from the public house Armstead called after him to stop. He did not stop but went on faster. Armstead overtook him and abused him for not stopping. Armstead kept dancing about him and wanted to fight him. When he got nearly to Round Green in Luton Armstead came in front of him, stopped him, seized his umbrella and took it away from him by force. He told Armstead he had committed a very unlawful act. Armstead said he had taken the law into his own hands. He left Armstead who went into a public house at Round Green. He went on to Luton and fetched a policeman. The policeman found Armstead at the public house with his umbrella. Charles Maffey of Luton, police constable – he went with Smart and they found Armstead at a public house at Round Green with the umbrella which Smart identified as his. He took Armstead into custody. Armstead said it was his umbrella, but he did not know where he got it.

item

Armstead, William,
Smart, Charles,
Maffey, Charles

Newbold on Avon, STOPSLEY, LUTON, Luton Round Green, stealing, umbrella, railway contractor, police constable, public houses