QSR1864/1/5/23

Depositions of Joseph Keeling, grocer of 51 Albert Road, Luton. Edward Thompson, innkeeper of Wellington Street, Luton. David Jaquest, police officer of Luton. In the case of Matthew William Deverell accused of bacon, butter and a penny by false pretences.

21 December 1863

From: 1863 To: 1864

Joseph Keeling: the prisoner came to the shop about 4pm on 16 December and laid a piece of written paper on the counter. There was something about bacon on the paper and it was signed in the name of ‘Tomson, Wellington Street’. He asked the prisoner how much bacon he was to have and the prisoner replied 4 lbs and ½ lb of fresh butter. He asked the prisoner if he worked for Mr Tomson and the prisoner said he did. The prisoner said he was to pay Mr Tomson and Mr Tomson would pay Keeling. Upon the representation he let the prisoner have the goods. He sent the bill to Mr Thomson and afterwards went to him and asked if he had a man named Deverell working for him. He found he did not. The same evening PC Jaquest brought the prisoner to his shop and asked if he was the man who had the butter and the bacon. He replied he was the man and gave him into custody. The prisoner did not say the note was sent by a man names Horn who lodged at Mr Thomson’s. Edward Thompson: keeper of the Fountain public house in Wellington Street, Luton. He knew the prisoner but he had never worked for him and he had never sent him to Keeling’s to get bacon and butter. He had nobody by the name of Horn lodging with him or working for him. PC David Jaquest: from information received he went in search of the prisoner and found him at his lodging at 4 Barber’s Lane. He told the prisoner he must go with him to Mr Keelings and the prisoner used bad language and refused to go. After a great deal of trouble he got the prisoner there and asked Mr Keeling if he was the man who had the bacon and butter. Keeling said he was. He took the prisoner into custody and charged him. The prisoner said he had fetched the good but he ought to lock up Horn as well as him. Statement of the accused: he was not guilty. He had been going to Mr Paine’s the butchers in Albert Road to see if his saws wanted sharpening. As he was going he met a man named Horn who asked him to give him a glass of beer. He told Horn to come with him and he would. Horn said as he was going to Mr Paine’s would he go to Mr Keeling’s next door and fetch him a bit of meat and butter. Horn said he lodged at Mr Thompson’s and he should tell him it was for Mr Thompson and he would be allowed it. He took the paper to Keeling’s and told him to send Horn 3 or 4 lbs of bacon and ½ lb of fresh butter. He took the bacon down to the Roe Buck and gave it to Horn, who ate as much as he required and then went away. Horn gave him the paper and said he had come from Mr Thompson’s.

item

Deverell, Matthew William,
Keeling, Joseph,
Thompson, Edward,
Jaquest, David

LUTON, false pretences, grocer, innkeeper, Luton Fountain, Luton Roebuck