QSR1896/4/5/4

Depositions of Michael O'Brien, William Pettingall, Charles Rogers, George Tilcock, John Taylor, William Turner and Arthur Cannon Smith. In the case of George Rowley, indicted for stealing one pair of boots and one pair of socks, value 6 shillings, property of Michael O'Brien.

24 September 1896

From: 1896 To: 1896

Michael O’Brien, tramp, bricklayer’s labourer by trade: On Thursday last the Witness went to the workhouse for a night’s shelter. He took his clothes off in the receiving room. When he went for his clothes next morning, boots and socks were missing. He complained to the Police. On Saturday last the 26th he saw his boots being worn by a man in Luton and gave him into custody. Boots produce are the pair he had on and he values the boots and socks at 6 shillings. William Pettingall, an inmate of the workhouse: The Witness’s duties at the workhouse are to look after the Tramp Ward and Receiving Room. He remembers the last Witness coming to the Tramp Ward on Thursday last the 24th. He [the last Witness] took his clothes off and left them in the Receiving Room. During the evening, about 10 minutes past eight, the Prisoner came in. Next morning, the last Witness O’Brien complained of having lost his boots. On Saturday evening the 26th the Witness was called to the Police Office and identified the Prisoner from 3 other men as the man who was in the Receiving Room on Thursday 24th. Charles Rogers, Inspector of Police for the Borough of Luton: On Thursday 24th September about 8:15 p.m. the Witness was passing up Stuart St., Luton, when he saw the Prisoner carrying a parcel under his arm. George Tilcock, chimney sweep of 12 Burr St., Luton: On Thursday 24 September the Witness was in the Brittania Public House from about 8 to 11 p.m. The Prisoner came in between about 9 and 10 o’clock. He had a pair of old shoes under his arm. He offered them for sale, asking 6 pence for them. The Witness bought them for 3 pence. The Witness afterwards bought the boots produced for 2/6 and returned the old ones. He resold the boots for 3 shillings to a man named Taylor. The Prisoner stated he had lost 1/6 by letting the Witness have them for 2/6. John Taylor, labourer of Back St., Luton: On Thursday evening 24th the Witness was in the Britannia Public House, Luton. The last Witness Tilcock and the Prisoner were there. The Witness bought the boots produced for 3 shillings from Tilcock. William Turner of Back St., Luton, residing with the last Witness, his step-father: On Friday morning 25th, when the Witness got up he was told he might wear the boots produced, and wore them that day and the day following. When the Witness was stopped by [Michael] O’Brien, who gave him into custody for stealing the boots, he [Turner] was taken to the Police Station and detained while the Police were making enquiries. The Witness was afterwards discharged. Arthur Cannon Smith, Police Constable for the Borough of Luton: On Saturday morning last the 26th about 11:45 the Witness was on duty in George St. Luton when Witness O’Brien called his attention to Witness Turner and from what he [O’Brien] stated, the Witness [Smith] arrested Turner and took him to the Police Station. Afterwards from what Turner stated the Witness went in search of the Prisoner. The Witness apprehended the Prisoner at a lodging house in Bun St. Luton, and told him the boots he sold on Thursday 24th had been identified as a pair stolen. “How do you account for them being in your possession?” The Prisoner answered, “I bought them from a man with sandy whiskers in Park St. and I gave him 3/6 for them and sold them for 2/6 losing a shilling over the deal.” The Witness took the Prisoner to the Police Office and placed him with two other men, and he was identified by the Witness Pettingall as being the man that he saw in the workhouse Receiving Room on 24th. The Witness afterwards searched the Prisoner and found in his possession the socks produced. The Witness then charged the Prisoner with stealing from the workhouse Receiving Room on Thursday 24th between 8 and 9 p.m. one pair of boots and one pair of socks value 6 shillings, the property of Michael O’Brien. The Prisoner made no reply. Statement of the Defendant George Rowley: “I have nothing to say.”

item

Rowley, George,
O'Brien, Michael,
Pettingall, William,
Rogers, Charles,
Tilcock, George,
Taylor, John,
Turner, William,
Smith, Arthur Cannon

stealing, boots, clothing, workhouses, LUTON