QSR1894/3/5/2

Depositions of William Henry Lake, David Wootton and William Chamberlain. In the case of Richard Hutchins, accused of stealing an umbrella.

19 May 1894

From: 1894 To: 1894

William Henry Lake: resident of 66, Chapel Street, Luton. On Tuesday 15th May at about 7.20pm he went to the library and put his umbrella in the stand near the door. When he left at about 8pm the umbrella was missing. He spoke to Mr. Wootton, the librarian, about it. He returned about 8.30pm but still the umbrella was missing. He then informed the police and the following morning, he, along with Sergeant Chamberlain, saw the prisoner standing in the street with his umbrella. David Wootton: librarian of Luton. The library is open to the public from 5pm to 10pm. The prisoner was a frequent visitor to the library. On the evening of Tuesday 15th May, the weather was wet and there were several umbrellas in the stand against the door. He saw the prisoner enter the library at about 7.15pm without an umbrella. The prisoner left at 7.30pm, though he loitered near the umbrella stand whilst registering a book which raised his suspicion. He heard an umbrella being moved. He then looked up and saw the prisoner hastily leave the library with an umbrella in his hand. At about 8pm he received information from Mr. Lake that he had lost his umbrella from the stand. No umbrella was returned that evening and he advised Mr. Lake to call again later and also to inform the police. William Chamberlain: detective sergeant of Luton. On the evening of Tuesday 15th May he received information that an umbrella had been stolen from the library. The prisoner was suspected and on the following morning he received a search warrant to search the prisoner’s house. On going in that direction about 10.15am he saw the prisoner standing in the street talking to other men. He could see the umbrella in the prisoner’s possession which answered to the description of the one that had been stolen. He called to the prisoner and asked Mr. Lake, who was with him, if it was his. Mr. Lake identified it. The prisoner admitted to taking the umbrella but that he had ascertained from Mr. Lake’s wife and daughter that he did not possess one. Richard Hutchins: Admits to taking the umbrella but not to stealing it.

item

Lake, William Henry,
Wootton, David,
Chamberlain, William,
Hutchins, Richard

LUTON, libraries, librarian, detective, umbrella, stealing