QSR1896/3/5/2

Depositions of Martha Hill, George Day and William Jaquest. In the case of George Rowley, indicted for stealing one concertina value 10 shillings, property of Martha Hill.

26 May 1896

From: 1896 To: 1896

Martha Hill, residing at 22 Back St. Luton, wife of John Hill a blocker. The Prisoner is the Witness’s father. On 22 May the Prisoner came to the Witness’s house and asked if he could stay. The Witness said “yes, if you keep your hands to yourself” and he said he would do. He did not stay that night but returned next morning at 5.30. He had breakfast with her. On the morning of 26th the Witness found the Prisoner had left a note, produced & marked ‘A’ [See below]. It is in his handwriting. The Witness saw the Prisoner had taken the concertina away, so went to see him at Mr. Corke’s, Burn St. The Witness asked the Prisoner where the concertina was and he said he had not seen the B- thing. The concertina produced is the Witness’s property. The Witness values it at 10 shillings. She last saw it at her house on 25th at 9:30 p.m. George Day, of Victoria St., Luton, assistant to Messrs Harmen and Shoesmith, Pawnbrokers of Luton. On 26 May at about 4 p.m. the Prisoner brought to the Witness the concertina produced. The Witness asked him if it belonged to him and he said ‘yes’. The Prisoner also told the Witness he had bought it at Barnet. The Witness advanced him 2 shillings on it. William Jaquest of Luton, Police Constable Borough Police: On 26 May at 10:30 p.m. the Witness received information from Mrs. Hill of the loss of a concertina and she wished to give her father the Prisoner in charge for stealing it. The Witness went to Corke’s Lodging House in company with Mrs. Hill who then gave the Prisoner into his custody on the charge of stealing the concertina produced. The Witness took the Prisoner to the Police Office and charged him with stealing from 22 Back St. Luton on 26 May a concertina value 10 shillings, property of Martha Hill. The Prisoner replied, “How does she know I took it or anyone else?” The Witness searched the Prisoner and found the pawn ticket produced and marked “B” [NB this is not present on the file]. The Witness went to Messrs Harmen and Shoesmith with the ticket on the morning of [27 May] and obtained the concertina produced. The Witness showed it to Martha Hill and she identified it. Note marked ‘A’ on a strip of paper torn from a book: “I have Borowed the Musick to get a way from my friends and [?] But will send it Back when I get my other Eye Bang (?) up you will hear ware I am Before meany howers” (sic). Statement of the Defendant George Rowley: “I have nothing to say. I call no witnesses.”

item

Rowley, George,
Hill, Martha,
Jaquest, William

stealing, musical instruments, LUTON