QSR1860/3/5/18

Depositions of George Punter, labourer of Luton. Maria, wife of Amos Punter, labourer of Pepperstock Green. Sarah Punter, wife of George Punter. William Punter, son of George. Samuel Pope, superintendent of police of Luton. Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton. In the case of William Woodman accused of receiving 11 white straw hats.

4 June 1860

From: 1860 To: 1860

George Punter: a labourer living at 5 New Town Street, Luton. His wife made up straw hats and bonnets. On 30 May he had a quantity of white unfinished hats on his premises. On his return home on 31 May, to breakfast, he found the hats missing. He had settled with Woodman for hats supplied to him by his wife on 3 or 4 occasions. Maria Punter: wife of Amos and they lived at Pepperstock Green. She had been in the habit of making up hats for her sister, George Punter’s wife. On Wednesday she had taken her 11 hats and part of one. She could not identify the hats. Sarah Punter: wife of George Punter. On Wednesday her sister had brought her 11 hats and a piece of one. On Thursday morning she missed 11 hats. They were worth about 7 pence each. She had frequently sold hats to Woodman and had sent them by her son. Her son had not received money and she had ever sent unfinished hats to Woodman. She had sent them 3 or 4 times. The charge for sewing a hat would be 2 ½ d. The charge for sewing the hats would be 2s 6d and the plait cost between 4 ½ d and 5 ½ d a score. When finished she could not sell them under 8d as they had cost her 7d. William Punter: son of George Punter. He was in service but slept at home. His master was Mr Gunn in Park Street West. William Woodman lived a few doors off. On Thursday morning there were 11 white straw hats at his father’s house and he took them to Woodman’s. He took them without his father or mothers knowledge. He took them straight to Woodman and told him he had 11 white straw hats to sell. He asked 6d each for them. He had been there before with hats but not lately. Woodman knew him. Woodman said he would give him 4d as they were not worth more to him. He agreed to leave them but Woodman did not give him any money as he was going out and did not have the money. Punter was to call again that night. Woodman did not ask him where they came from and he did not say. He had taken had taken some turbans there 3 weeks previous and they had not been stiffened. He had never taken unfinished hats there for his father or mother. He had previously sold Woodman a pair of shoes. He had not taken the money for the turbans to his father or mother. Superintendent Samuel Pope: on Thursday 31 May he went to Woodman’s shop. He found the hats on a box. The same evening he saw Woodman at his house and told him he had taken 11 white hats from his shop which had been stolen from the Punters. He asked Woodman how they came into his possession and who brought them. He said “some boy brought them and left them with me just as I was going to market this morning I told the boy I would give him 4d each for them and if that would do he was to call this evening for the money”. He asked him the boys name but he said he did not know. He told Woodman that unless he named or found the boy he would charge him with stealing them. Woodman said he did not know the name of the boy and would not find him. Pope said he would have no more nonsense and he would take him to the station and lock him up. Woodman said he would tell him the truth and it was the boy who worked for Mr Gunn up the street. He went to Gunn’s and pointed out William Punter as the boy from whom he had bought the hats. He charged Punter, who said he had taken them and left them at Woodman’s. Woodman said the boy had said his mother had sent him with the hats and repeated several times what he did not know the boy. PC Richard Lambert: he was with Mr Pope when he went to Woodman’s. (statement supported that given by Samuel Pope). George Punter: he went over to Hempstead to see Woodman on Thursday morning He knew the hats had been found on his premises. He asked Woodman who had brought them to his house. Woodman said it was a lad and he could not swear who it had been. Punter said he had been told it was his boy. He wished to get this son off. Statement of the accused: not guilty.

item

Punter, George,
Punter, Maria,
Punter, Amos,
Punter, Sarah,
Punter, William,
Pope, Samuel,
Lambert, Richard,
Gunn

LUTON, Luton New Town Street, Luton Park Street West, stealing, straw hat