QSR1860/3/5/3

Depositions of George Frederick Almond, straw bonnet manufacturer of Luton. William Nash, warehouseman of Luton. Charles Bird, blacksmith of Luton. William Randall, dyer of Sundon. Joseph Bone, dyer of Flamstead. Nathaniel Waller, blocker of Luton. John Waller, dyer of Luton and George Smith, police sergeant of Luton. In the case of Thomas Brown accused of stealing 130 score of straw plait.

9 April 1860

From: 1860 To: 1860

George Frederick Almond: a manufacturer at Luton and in partnership with Richard Henry Manlove. On 19 March, Thomas Brown came to the warehouse and asked for plait for Randall. Randall dyed for them. He gave Brown 537 ½ scores and saw him go across the street into the Bell Yard where Randall was put up. He gave Brown the tickets which bore the private mark f the firm. He put an invoice under the string of one of the bundles and did not tell the prisoner the invoice was there. The value of the plait was £6 4s 0d. William Nash: he was in the employ of Messrs Almond and Manlove. The tickets produced were in his handwriting and he had put them on the plait on 19 March. Charles Bird: a blacksmith living at No.7 Hastings Street, Luton. On 19 March he was in the Bell yard at Luton and saw Thomas Brown come down the gateway with 2 bundles of plait. Brown put the plait in Randall’s cart and said “there Steph you see me put this plait in the cart didn’t you”. He replied yes. Brown called him ‘Steph’ 3 or 4 times and spoke to him about the plait. Bird went into the house and Brown followed and they drank together. Brown went out the back door and then returned. Bird went out with Mr Randall. Whilst in the yard with Brown, Brown said “If the old devil has lost any he will say I had it”. Brown had not so drunk as he could not walk straight. The next day some plait had been lost. William Randall: on 19 March he had been at the Bell in Luton and saw Thomas Brown there. He told Brown he had plait at Manlove’s which he must fetch and Brown said he would fetch it for him. Randall told him he would fetch it himself but a few minutes later Brown left and returned saying had had fetched the plait and put it in the cart. He asked Brown for the invoice and replied there was not one. Brown then went out of the house for about an hour and then went home with him. On the Tuesday he received an invoice and found 130 score of plait missing. Brown had worked for him some time ago and there was an unsettled account between them. Joseph Bone: he knew William Randall and Thomas Brown. On the night of Monday 19 March he left the Sportsman public house in Langley Street a little after 9pm and saw 10 [?] of plait in the road. He picked up several tens and was going towards Albert Road when he saw 105 ½ score of plait. He overtook Brown and saw him drop the plait as he went along. Brown dropped the big bundle just before the Roebuck. He saw the big bundle in the possession of the police the next morning. Mr Bavister at the Antelope lent him a handkerchief to tie it up and he gave the bundle to Sergeant Smith along with the number of score on the ticket. When Brown was dropping the plait he called his attention to it but Brown did not stop but said bring it on. He followed Brown up Albert Road, whilst carrying the plait he had picked up and took the plait to Bavister and told him to take care of it. Brown came in soon after with an armful of plait and he told Brown he had picked up some of his plait. Brown said it was not his plait and did not care who had it. Thomas Brown threw down all he had. Brown went away taking with him what he had brought in but leaving that which Joseph Bone had picked up. He gave the plait to Sergeant Smith. Nathaniel Waller: he lived at No.7 Windsor Street, Luton. About 10pm on the night of 19 March he had been at the Antelope public house in Albert Road. He knew Thomas Brown and had seen Joseph Bone there before Brown came in. His brother, John, came with a quantity of plait and brown came in after him. Brown said to him “we have been striking for money from the old man” meaning Randall and “we could not get any so we’ve got some plait”. Brown went away and took away the plait his brother had brought it. Bone picked up some plait which was in the bar and looked at the tickets. Bone took it away with him. John Waller: he lived at 52 Albert Road, Luton and was brother to the last witness. On 19 March he went into the Antelope with Brown. He had been in there before and had seen Bone come in with some plait. Brown had some plait with him which he dropped. Waller picked it up and tied it up for him. Brown asked him to lend him a bag to put it in and that the plait was not his and he did not care what became of it or who had it. He believed there were about 200 scores of plait. Brown left the Antelope and he did not see him until seeing him the street today. Sergeant George Smith: he received plait from Joseph Bone on 19 March. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Brown, Thomas,
Almond, George Frederick,
Nash, William,
Bird, Charles,
Randall, William,
Bone, Joseph,
Waller, Nathaniel,
Waller, John,
Smith, George

LUTON, SUNDON, Flamstead, Straw Plait, stealing, straw hat manufacturer, warehouseman, dyer, blocker, Luton Antelope, Luton Bell