QSR1864/4/5/8

William Gray, manufacturer of Luton. Sophia Gray, manufacturer of Luton. Elizabeth Carter, wife of John, warehouseman of Luton. Eliza Thompson, wife of Edward, manufacturer of Luton. George Facer, rag and bone dealer of Luton. George Smith, general dealer of Luton. George Smith, police sergeant of Luton. In the case of James Everitt accused of stealing 32 bonnets, the value of £3.

26 September 1864

From: 1864 To: 1864

William Gray: a manufacturer at Luton and he assisted him mother in her business at 54 Wellington Street, Luton. A person by the name of Elizabeth Carter worked for his mother in making up bonnets and hats. About 10 am on Tuesday 6 September Elizabeth Carter brought 32 bonnets into the shop, they were extra sized bonnets for elderly ladies. He received them from her and entered them into the book. He laid them on the counter at the furthest end from the door. The shop was occasionally left without anyone in it and the door sometimes left open. He missed the bonnets on either the Wednesday or the Thursday after they had been brought in. He could swear to the bonnets since produced by their make and material. It was a foreign material which could only be obtained by order. They were worth £3. He did not see the prisoner on the premises. Sophia Gray: a manufacturer of 54 Wellington Street, Luton. Her son assisted her in the business. Elizabeth Carter had worked for her for some considerable time and had some material to make into bonnets on 3 September. On 6 September she saw them on the counter. She missed them on the Thursday when they went to pack them up. She informed the police. On 10 September Elizabeth Thompson brought her a single bonnet which she knew to be one which had been missed. She delivered the bonnet to Sergeant Smith on the same day. The same evening the sergeant brought her 31 bonnets which were the same as those she had lost. Elizabeth Carter: She lived in Wellington Street with her husband John. She had worked for Mrs Gray for several years, making up hats and bonnets. On 3 September she had some material from Mrs Gray to be made into 32 bonnets and took them to Grays on Tuesday 6 September. The bonnets produced were the ones she had made up. Eliza Thompson: wife of Edward and they lived at 33 Albert Road, Luton. About 5pm on 10 September, George Facer brought 32 bonnets to their house and offered them for sale at 1s 3d per bonnet. She had heard of the robbery and told the prisoner she had no change but if he left the bonnets and called again in an hour she would have some. She then took a bonnet to Mrs Gary and left it with her. In the course of the evening she gave the other 31 to Sergeant Smith. George Facer: he was a rag & bone dealer and lived at New Town, Luton. He knew George Sydney Smith. About 3pm on 10 September Smith gave him the 32 bonnets to sell for him. He was to have all that he made over a sovereign. He delivered them to Mrs Thompson and sold them to her for 1s 3d each. He left them and was to call again for the money. He called about an hour later and found Sergeant Smith there, who took away the bonnets. George Smith: a general dealer and lived in New Town, Luton. He had known the prisoner James Everitt for about 8 years. On 6 September he was at the Lord Nelson beer house in High Town. Everitt was there and had some bonnets with him. He offered him 32 bonnets for sale. He bought them for 11 shillings and a quart of beer. He gave these same bonnets to Facer to sell for him. Facer was to have all he could make over a sovereign. Dumpleton and Mrs Stratton were present when he bought them from Everitt. The bonnets were now tied with the same cloth he had bought them in. Sergeant George Smith: he went to Mrs Gray’s house on 10 September and received one of the bonnets from her. He then went to Mrs Thompson’s and there saw George Facer. Mrs Thompson delivered him the other 31 bonnets. He took the prisoner into custody on the same evening and charged him. The prisoner said he had sold then but they were his own and he had sewn them himself. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Everitt, James,
Gray, William,
Gray, Sophia,
Carter, Elizabeth,
Carter, John,
Thompson, Eliza,
Thompson, Edward,
Facer, George,
Smith, George

stealing, straw bonnets, LUTON, Luton Wellington Street, Luton Albert Road, manufacturers, rag merchant