QSR1864/1/5/1-5

Depositions of Leonora Ross, wife of Alexander, gardener of Luton. Frederick Hoar, labourer of Luton. Henry Randall, labourer of Luton. James Haynes, police constable of Luton. George Smith, sergeant of police of Luton. Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton. In the case of Levi Gore, James Gore, Samuel Fleckney, James How and John Gore accused of breaking and entering a dwelling house and therein stealing a gold watch and other articles.

26 October 1863

From: 1864 To: 1864

Leonora Ross: wife of Alexander, a gardener to Mr Crawley at Stockwood near Luton. They lived at a lodge on the side of the London Road in Luton. On 5 October she left the house before 11am and fastened the doors and windows. She returned about 12.15pm and saw a boy sitting on a gate near the house. She heard him give a very peculiar whistle when he saw her. She heard a noise from inside the house. She went and spoke to a man at work nearby and the prisoners Fleckney and James Gore ran away. When she got home she saw the front window broken and the window at the back of the house thrown wide open. She missed 3 books; 2 church services and a little book called “Green Pastures”. She also missed 2 brooches, a little box, a watch key, a plum cake, a piece of cheese, a gold watch, a gold chain and a locket. She also missed a pair of wellington boots from the back kitchen, 3 knives and 3 forks. She saw the prisoners, except John Gore, at the police station. She knew Fleckney and James Gore to be the boys who had run away. She had seen 4 boys near her house before she left home and the boys had no business in the park where they were. The missing articles were worth £13. Frederick Hoar: he was 14 years old and worked for Mr Payne, the butcher in Albert Road, Luton. On 5 October he was in London Road near Mr Crawley’s lodge. He saw Fleckney, How, Levi gore and James Gore there. They were going towards the lodge. On 8 October he saw them all at the police station and said in their presence they were the boys he had seen on 5 October. Henry Randall: he was 14 years old. On 5 October he had been driving a plough in the field of William Clarke, opposite London Road lodge in Mr Crawley’s park. About midday he saw 4 boys run down the road. The boys had been about during the morning. Levi gore ran down the field towards him and said something to another boy and then ran back into the road. The next day he saw Levi Gore at the station and knew him to be the same boy. PC James Haynes: on 5 October he went in search of the prisoners. He found Levi Gore at his father’s house in bed. He found Samuel Fleckney at his father’s house and James How at his father’s house. He charged them with breaking and entering the lodge at Stockwood. Levi Gore said he had not been near London Road that day. Fleckney said he knew nothing about it and How said he had not been at London Road the day before. They all said they had gone to New Mill End that afternoon. He went with PC Lambert and found the church services on top of Luton Church. Sergeant George Smith: he took James Gore into custody on 5 October at his father’s house. He charged Gore and he relied he had not been up London Road that day and had gone part of the way to New Mill End with Fleckney and Levi Gore but they went on and he had come home. PC Richard Lambert: he had charge of the police station at Luton. The 5 prisoners were in custody on 19 October. Fleckney made a statement in the presence of the other 4. Fleckney said on the Monday the 4 of them had gone up as far as the lodge. He and James Gore had sat outside and Levi Gore and How went into the garden. They saw a woman come along the road and James Gore whistled. The other 2 came from the garden as if they had come from the house. They went as far as the New Mill Road eating a currant cake and then went back to Luton. They started for Hitchin about 3pm and once there Levi Gore gave him a watch and chain to pawn for £3 in the name of Newman. When he got there the woman told him the shop was shut so he gave the watch and chain back to Gore. They returned to Luton and when they got to Hitchin Road Bridge they met John Gore. He told them the policeman was after them and if they had anything they should give it to him to make away with. They went as far as the Church yard and Levi Gore gave John Gore the watch and chain and a brooch. He gave Gore the earrings. How gave him the knives, forks and books. John Gore threw the 2 books on top of the church. They left him. Lambert took John Gore in custody. John Gore said he had met the boys that night but knew nothing of the break in or the property. Lambert found the 2 books on top of the church and they were identified by Mrs Ross. Levi Gore said he had given his brother, John Gore, the watch and chain and How said he had given him the knives and forks. Statements of the accused: Fleckney, Levi Gore, James Gore and John Gore – they were not guilty. James How – nothing to say.

item

Gore, Levi,
Gore, James,
Gore, John,
Fleckney, Samuel,
How, James,
Ross, Leonora,
Ross, Alexander,
Hoar, Frederick,
Randall, Henry,
Haynes, James,
Smith, George,
Lambert, Richard,
Crawley,
Clarke, William

LUTON, Luton Stockwood House, Luton London Road, breaking & entering, watches, gardener, receiving stolen goods, church services, books