QSR1859/1/5/6c,8

Depositions of William Goodyear, straw bonnet manufacturer. Elizabeth Wells, single woman of Redbourn. Sarah Allen, wife of George Allen the elder, straw bonnet manufacturer of Luton. Hannah Allen, wife of George Allen the younger, bonnet sewer and Samuel Pope, superintendent of police of Luton. In the case of Charles Luck accused of stealing 3 straw bonnets and Mary Ann Luck accused of receiving the same.

10 December 1858

From: 1858 To: 1859

William Goodyear: on 29 September Charles Luck was in his employment. In consequence of having lost a quantity of bonnets he went with Mr Pope, on the 26 November, to the house of Mary Ann Luck at Redbourn. She was the sister in law of Charles Luck. Mr Pope told her he had come for the bonnets she had received from Charles Luck. She said she had not got any bonnets on the premises nor seen any. Mr Pope said he knew she had bonnets, her brother had told him and he would not leave without them. Mary Ann Luck said she would fetch a bonnet and Mr Pope said he must go with her. He and Pope went with her to the house of her mother, Mrs Wells. They saw her sister there and Mary Ann Luck asked her to bring the bonnet that was trimmed. Her sister brought the bonnet and it was no one of Mr Goodyears. Mrs Wells said to fetch them all down and her daughter brought 3 bonnets which he identified as his property. Mr Pope asked the sister where she had the bonnets from. The sister replied Mrs Luck had taken them there about half an hour before. Mary Ann Luck said Charles Luck had taken 3 bonnets to her for her to select one as a wedding present the previous Saturday night. The 3 bonnets were of different patterns. Elizabeth Wells: she resided with her mother at Redbourn. On 26 November Mr Pope and Mr Goodyear came to her mother’s house. About half an hour before, Mary Ann Luck had brought 3 bonnets to the house. Luck said to take the bonnets as she dare not have them in her house. She took them and laid them in the back place. She gave them up to the Superintendent. Her sister had been married 7 weeks ago. Sarah Allen: she employed sewers and made bonnets for Mr Goodyear. The bonnet marked no.5 was made in her house by Ann Snoxall. She knew it be the mark of T. It had been made within the last 3 or 4 months. Hannah Allen: he resided at Luton and worked for Mr Goodyear as a sewer. Towards the end of November she made the bonnet marked no.12 for Mr Goodyear. Superintendent Samuel Pope: on 26 November he went with Mr Goodyear to the residence of Mary Ann Luck. He told her he had come for the 3 bonnets which she had received from Charles Luck on 20 or 21 November. She said she had not seen Charles Luck or ever received a bonnet from him in her life. She related several times she wisehd God to strike her down if she had. He told her he was positive she had and did not intend to leave Redbourn without them. She afterwards said she had one bonnet from him and they all went to her mother’s house to fetch it. She told her sister, Elizabeth, to fetch her the bonnet which had been trimmed. Mr Goodyear said it was not his bonnet. Mrs Wells was there and he said that he would search the house and if he found any bonnets belonging to Mr Goodyear he would take the party into custody. Mrs Wells told Elizabeth to fetch down the 3 bonnets. Elizabeth Wells said the prisoner had brought the bonnets there about half an hour earlier. The prisoner said the bonnets were given to her by Charles Luck but she had ot known them stolen. Statement of the accused: Charles Luck "I am Guilty" Mary Ann Luck "I am not Guilty"

item

Luck, Charles,
Luck, Mary Ann,
Allen, Hannah,
Wells, Elizabeth,
Allen, Sarah,
Allen, George,
Pope, Samuel

LUTON, Redbourn, stealing, receiving stolen goods, bonnet, straw hat manufacturer, bonnet sewer