QSR1860/3/5/6

Depositions of Mary Tennant, wife of Kennerie Tennant the elder, blocker of Luton. Kennerie Tennant the younger of Luton and Police Sergeant George Smith. In the case of James Rooker accused of stealing a pair of cotton drawers.

28 May 1860

From: 1860 To: 1860

Mary Tennant: on 26 May she went to Mr Underwood’s shop to buy a cap for her little boy. She had a basket with her and a paper parcel containing a pair of cotton drawers. The parcel was on top of the basket. Whilst she was looking at the caps she set the basket by the side of her. She saw the prisoner standing to the side of her and on looking round she missed the parcel. She told Mr Underwood she had lost her parcel and they looked about the shop for it. When she went to the door her son told her that the man fitting the cap had taken the parcel and he had seen him put it between his legs. She went back to the shop and asked the prisoner if he had the parcel. He said he did not and she told him her son had seen him take it. The prisoner took it from under his waistcoat and gave it to her. She informed the police the same night. The drawers were worth 14 pence. Kennerie Tennant the younger: he went with his mother to Mr Underwood’s to buy a new cap. Whilst there he saw the prisoner standing near his mother. He saw the prisoner take the parcel from her mother’s basket, which was by his mother’s side. The prisoner put it between his legs. He told his mother as they were coming out of the doors. He saw his mother go into the shop and asked the prisoner for it. Police Sergeant George Smith: he took the prisoner into custody and charged him. The prisoner said he had not stolen them but picked them up in the shop and had given them to Mrs Tennant when asked for them. Statement of the accused: he was not guilty.

item

Rooker, James,
Tennant, Mary,
Tennant, Kennerie,
Smith, George

LUTON, stealing, underwear