QSR1863/1/5/15

Depositions of Maria Godfrey, wife of John, gardener of Luton. Thomas Lines, plait dealer of Wilstone. George Summerfield, police constable of Dunstable. Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton. James Custance, confectioner of Luton. In the case of John Wright accused of stealing a purse containing £3 3s 6d from the person of Maria Godfrey.

29 December 1862

From: 1862 To: 1863

Maria Godfrey: on the morning of Monday 22 December she was standing in Luton Market Place and felt a hand taken out of her right hand pocket. She turned and saw the prisoner going away from her. She felt her pocket and found her purse and money gone. She went after the prisoner and he went through the Shoulder of Mutton public house to the yard and she followed him through the passage. The prisoner hid himself in the privy and when he came out she took hold of him and he was given into the custody of the police. There was £3 3s 6d in the purse and a bill from Mr Crawley the butcher for 4s. Thomas Lines: a plait dealer of Wilstone near Tring. Hr attended the market at Luton and had been there on 22 December. He saw the prisoner rush through the Shoulder of Mutton pubic house. He followed him through the house and found him in the privy. He stopped until the prisoner came out and followed him down the yard. He stayed with him until the policeman came and took him into custody. he did not see the prisoner go into the privy and looked for him in 2 or 3 places first. PC George Summerfield: on 22 December he was at Luton and received the prisoner from Lines and some others at the Shoulder of Mutton yard. He charged the prisoner and the prisoner said he knew nothing about the theft. He took the prisoner to the police station. He left the prisoner at the station and went back with Sergeant Smith to the Shoulder of Mutton and searched the privy in the yard. The found the purse, a little memorandum book and a bill on top of the pail. Mrs Godfrey identified them as her property. PC Richard Lambert: on 22 December the prisoner was brought to the station. He searched the prisoner and found 5 half sovereigns, 4 half crowns, 4 two shilling pieces, 9 shillings, 3 sixpences and a half penny. In all there was £3 18s 6 ½d. Mrs Godfrey said she had lost £2 in gold but did not know if it was a sovereign or 4 half. James Custance: a confectioner who kept a stall at Luton market. On 22 December he saw Mrs Godfrey near his stall and the prisoner was standing by her side. Mrs Godfrey and the prisoner both stood with their backs to him. He saw the prisoner withdraw his hand from Mrs Godfrey’s pocket and place it in his own coat pocket and run round some of the stalls towards the Shoulder of Mutton public house. He followed him with Mrs Godfrey and 2 other men. He put one man at the front and the other at the side door of the house. He went round the back. He met the prisoner coming down the yard with 7 people and left him in their charge. He was sure the prisoner was the man who out his hand into Mrs Godfrey’s pocket as he had to face him as he run away. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Wright, John,
Godfrey, Maria,
Godfrey, John,
Lines, Thomas,
Summerfield, George,
Lambert, Richard,
Custance, James

LUTON, DUNSTABLE, Wilstone, confectioner, pickpocket, gardener, plait dealer, Luton Market, Luton Shoulder of Mutton