QSR1865/3/5/8

Depositions of Sarah Ann Elliott, wife of John, bricklayer of Luton. Sarah Ann Mouse, spinster of Luton. Alfred Maddocks, labourer of Luton. Roderick Donald Fraser, pawnbroker of Luton. George James, police constable of Luton. In the case of Ann Jones accused of feloniously stealing 2 sheets and 2 blankets, together the value of 10 shillings.

24 April 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Sarah Ann Elliott: wife of John and residing at 42 Park Street, Luton. On 17 April the prisoner hired a bedroom at her house. It was a furnished room. The prisoner lived in it until 21 April. The prisoner went up and down the stairs a good deal that day and went in and out of the house several times. In the afternoon, she went up to the prisoners room whilst the prisoner was not home. She found 2 sheets and 2 blankets missing from the bed. When the prisoner returned that evening she asked her where the blankets and sheets were. The prisoner replied they had gone to be washed and she would have them back tomorrow. She sent for the police and was present when PC James found 2 pawnbrokers duplicates in the prisoner’s box. She afterwards saw 2 sheets and a blanket at the pawnbrokers. She knew them as her husband’s property. Sarah Ann Mouse: she was 13 years old and lived with her father at 6 Park Lane, Luton. On the afternoon of 20 April the prisoner came to her at Park Lane and asked her to go on an errand for her. She gave her a parcel and asked her to take it to the pawnshop. It was a sheet. She took it and pawned it at Mr Fraser’s in the name of Davis. She took the ticket to the prisoner and gave her 11d ½ and the prisoner gave her back a penny. Alfred Maddocks: he lived in Manchester Street, Luton with his father. He was 14 years old. On 21 April he was in Barber’s Lane, Luton when the prisoner came to him and asked him to do an errand for her to the pawnshop. The prisoner gave him a sheet and he took it to the pawnbrokers in Bute Street. The prisoner told him to put it in his mother’s name or else they’d ask too many questions. He had a shilling on the sheet and took the shilling and ticket to the prisoner. She gave him a penny for going. Roderick Donald Fraser: he was a pawnbroker at Luton. He produced 2 sheets and a blanket. One of the sheets was pawned by a little girl names Mouse, in the name of David on 20 April for a shilling. The other sheet was pawned by Maddocks in his mothers name for a shilling. The blanket was pawned on 21 April in the name of Poulton for a shilling. The duplicate produced by PC James corresponded with his tickets. PC George James: on 21 April he went to 42 Park Street, Luton and took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said she had not stolen the sheets and blanket but had taken them to be washed. She said she would have them tomorrow. He asked the prisoner where she had taken them and she replied she could not tell him. he searched the box in her room in the presence of Mrs Elliott and found 2 duplicates for the sheets. He afterwards, at the police station, found another duplicate for the blanket. They corresponded with Fraser’s tickets. Statement of the accused: she had intended to take the items back again on Saturday. She had sent for some money and meant to take them out again.

item

Jones, Ann,
Elliott, Sarah Ann,
Mouse, Sarah Ann,
Maddocks, Alfred,
Fraser, Roderick Donald,
James, George

LUTON, Luton Park Street, stealing, household linen, bricklayer, pawnbroker