QSR1861/1/5/12

Depositions of William Ward, 3 Russell Place, Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, a painter and glazier. Ellen Moorhen otherwise Mooring of Luton, marine store dealer. Mary Ann Allen, wife of James of Luton. John Hall, groom of Luton. William Frederick Knight, police constable of Luton. Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton. In the case of Joseph Henri, otherwise Henerly, accused of stealing a black cloth coat, a pair of black cloth trousers, a pair of braces, a black cloth cloak, a broach a bead collar.

26 November 1860

From: 1860 To: 1861

William Ward: on 20 May 1860 he was living at 66 Park Road, Luton and working for Mr Lines, a painter at Luton. The prisoner was also engaged by Mr Lines on that day and sent with him to work at Mr Crawley’s new farm at Eaton Green. When they left the shop the prisoner went with him to his house and went in with him. On leaving he locked the front door and hung the key at the back of the house near his neighbour’s window. He was in the habit of putting it for his wife to find when she came home. They went towards Eaton Green. The model farm was on the road and the prisoner stopped by it and did not continue on with him to Eaton Green. He did not see him again. On going home on the evening of 21 May he found his street door key missing and next morning he missed a black cloth coat, a pair of black cloth trousers, a pair of braces, a black cloth cloak, a broach a bead collar. He searched his house for the missing belongings and found the prisoners coat concealed behind the chimney board in his bedroom. He took it to PC Lambert. Ellen Moorhen: she lived in Hitchin Road, Luton and her husband was a marine store dealer. On 20 May the prisoner came to her house with a bundle under his arm. The prisoner asked if they took second hand clothes and was told they did. He laid down the bundle and she undid it and found a pair of black cloth trousers, a black cloth cloak with a broach on it and a pair of braces. She gave him 7 shillings for them. After the prisoner had gone she found a bead collar under the table. On 26 May the policeman went to her house and asked if she had bought any clothes lately. She told him she had and told him to whom she had sold them. Mary Ann Allen: her husband James Allen lived at the back of Gaitshell [?] Terrace Luton, not far from Mrs Moorhens. On 24 May she bought a pair of black trousers from Mrs Moorhen. She gave her 4 shillings for them. On the following Saturday PC Knight sent for her to go to Mrs Moorhen’s and asked about the trousers. He sent her to fetch them. She did so. John Hall: a groom at Mr Crawley’s of Stockwood. On 23 May he bought a black cloth cloak of Mrs Moorhen and gave her 5 shillings for it. He gave it to PC Knight. William Frederick Knight: he received information regarding the robbery at Wards House on 21 May and went to Mrs Moorhens and enquired as to whether she had purchased any articles corresponding with those missed. In consequence of information Mrs Moorhen gave him, he saw Mrs Allen, who gave him a pair of trousers and John Hall, who gave him a black cloth cloak. The collar, broach and braces he took from Mrs Moorhen. PC Richard Lambert: on 22 May Ward brought a basket to the police station with a basket and some other articles. On 23 November the prisoner was brought to the police station by Superintendent Pope. The prisoner claimed the articles were his property. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Henri, Joseph,
Henerly, Joseph,
Ward, William,
Moorhen, Ellen,
Mooring, Ellen,
Allen, Mary Ann,
Hall, John,
Knight, William Frederick,
Lambert, Richard

LUTON, Luton Park Road, marine store dealer, stealing, clothing, groom, painter, glazier