QSR1863/4/5/10

Depositions of Mary Ann Burgess, wife of George, manufacturer of 11 York Street, Luton. Eliza Rayment, wife of George, manufacturer of 38 Hastings Street, Luton. Dinah Hyde, wife of John, labourer of London Road, Luton. William Frederick Knight, sergeant of police of Luton. In the case of Ann Wood accused of stealing £16 3s 8d and a purse.

21 September 1863

From: 1863 To: 1863

Mary Ann Burgess: about 11am on Saturday 12 September she was at Messrs Allan and Badgers warehouse in George Street, Luton. She went to receive money for goods sold there on the Friday. She took a £5 note and 8 shillings in silver and out the money into her purse and her purse into her pocket. She went through the yard to speak to someone and on coming back she fancied she felt a drag at her pocket. She felt to see if her purse was alright. She left and went to Mr George Hunt’s and felt her pocket as she got there. She found her money was safe. Whilst taking money from Hunt’s cashier she felt someone push against her and turned round to see the prisoner. The prisoner was the same person she had seen at Allan & Badgers. She felt again for the purse and found it gone. She looked around and saw the prisoner pass the window of the warehouse towards Chapel Street. She caught hold of the prisoner in Chapel Street and accused her. The prisoner strongly denied it. She told the prisoner to come with her and the prisoner said she would not do so. She led the prisoner back to Hunt’s and told her that if she gave her the purse and money then she would forgive her. The prisoner said she did not have it. A policeman was sent for. She heard the purse drop on the boards. Mrs Rayment picked it up and gave it to her. She gave it to Sergeant Knight. The purse was hers as were the contents. She had taken £5 8s 0d at Allan & badgers and £10 8d at Hunts & Browns. The rest she had when she had left home. Eliza Rayment: she was at Mr George Hunt’s warehouse in George Street, Luton selling bonnets. She saw Mrs Burgess come in and soon after she saw her come in again with the prisoner and accuse her of taking a purse and some money. The prisoner denied it. She saw the prisoner put her hand behind her and drop a purse. It fell on the board and lodged against her foot. She saw the purse in the prisoners hand before it dropped. She picked it up and gave it to Mrs Burgess. Dinah Hyde: on the morning of 12 September she was at Mr George Hunt’s warehouse in George Street, Luton. She saw Mrs Burgess bring in the prisoner and heard Mrs Burgess accuse the prisoner of stealing her purse. Someone went for the police and the prisoner was close to her and Mrs Rayment. She saw the prisoner put her hand behind her and drop the purse. Mrs Rayment picked it up and gave it to Mrs Burgess. PC William Frederick Knight: he went to Mr George Hunt’s warehouse and took the prisoner into custody. He charged her with stealing from the person of Mrs Mary Ann Burgess a purse containing £16 3s 8d. The prisoner made no reply. Statement of the accused: she would plead guilty if they would be so kind as to settle it today.

item

Wood, Ann,
Burgess, Mary Ann,
Burgess, George,
Rayment, Eliza,
Rayment, George,
Hyde, Dinah,
Hyde, John,
Knight, William Frederick,
Hunt, George

LUTON, Luton York Street, Luton Hastings Street, Luton London Road, Luton George Street, manufacturer, stealing, money, pickpocket