QSR1863/1/5/9-10

Depositions of Alfred Davis, victualler of Luton. George James, police constable of Luton. Frederick Parsons, baker of Luton. Phoebe Neal, wife of John, fishmonger of Luton. George Smith, police seregant of Luton. In the case of Robert Elston and Charles Godfrey accused of stealing 5 live fowls, the value of £10.

1 December 1862

From: 1862 To: 1863

Alfred Davis: he kept the Star and Garter public house in Luton. About 11am on Tuesday 18 November he missed 5 fowls, 4 hens and a male bird. He had fastened them into the hen house on Monday night. The hen house was situated in the yard at the back of his house. The yard was walled in. The hen house was not joined to the house. The hen house was locked. On Tuesday morning the door was partly open and the lock broken. He informed the police. PC James showed him a small packet of feathers. They compared with those picked up outside the hen house. He had not doubt they were the feathers of his fowls. He traced the feather to Elston’s house, about 12 yards from the back of his preemies. Elson had called at the house about 11.50pm for a quart of beer. The next day Sergeant Smith showed him the end of 2 wings of fowls. They were fresh. They matched the wings of a male bird he had lost. The fowls were worth £10. The egg the male bird hatched from cost £1 1s 0d. He had not seen any like them in the neighbourhood. PC George James: on the morning of 18 November he went to the hen house in Mr Davis’s yard with Sergeant Smith. He saw a quantity of feathers on the ground outside and picked them up. He traced the feathers from there to the prisoner Elston’s door. The house was near the back of Elston’s premises. He traced the feathers through the house into the back yard and the ash pit. He picked up some of the feathers. He also found fresh feathers on the broom in the house. He compared those feathers with those he had picked up at Davis’ hen house. The prisoner was taken into custody and charged with stealing the fowls. He searched the prisoner at the station and found 2 or 3 fresh feathers in his coat pocket. Frederick Parsons: a baker working for Mr Hill in Princess Street. He was going to work about 4.45am on 18 November. He saw Elston at the corner of Stuart Place at the back of Davis’ premises. Elston asked what time it was and he told him. He saw another man stand against the Star and Garter. He did not know him but he was a short man. He did not see Godfrey there. Pheobe Neal: wife of John and they lived at the Fishmonger beer house in Park Street West, Luton. On 18 November Sergeant Smith came to the house and asked if they had any fowls offered for sale. She said no. The prisoner Godfrey lodged with them. Martha Allen lodged there with him. Smith came again next day and she went with him to Godfrey’s room. They found some feathers tied up in a handkerchief under the bedstead. Godfrey’s room was private for him and Martha Allen. Sergeant George Smith: on the morning of 18 November he went with PC James to the henhouse and they traced the feathers to Elston’s house. They traced the feathers to the back of the premises. James picked up feathers at Mr Davis’s and at Elston’s. They compared. He took Elston into custody at the Tiger beer house in High Town. On being charged Elston said he had not stolen the fowls and knew nothing about it. He then went to the Fishmonger beer house and searched Godfrey’s room. He found feathers under the bedstead. He found feathers and the end of wing tied in a handkerchief. Mr Davis identified the feathers. He took Godfrey into custody and on being charged Godfrey said he knew nothing about it and the feather under the bed had been there 3 months. Statements of the accused: Robert Elston – the feathers were his. Charles Godfrey – the feathers were his but had been there 2 months.

item

Godfrey, Charles,
Elston, Robert,
Davis, Alfred,
James, George,
Parsons, Frederick,
Neal, Phoebe,
Smith, George,
Allen, Martha

LUTON, stealing, fowls, baker, victualler, fishmonger, Luton Star & Garter