QSR1892/3/5/1

Deposition of Elgood George Punchard Vicar Christ Church; ; Arthur Kingham of Villa Road Luton; Police Constable William Charles Aylott; Joseph Henry Jennings Upper George Street Luton. In the case of John Sinclair accused of unlawfully and feloniously enter Christ Church with the intent to commit a felony therein.

From: 1892 To: 1892

Deposition of Elgood George Punchard on his Oath saith as follows: I have been a Vicar 10 years past of Christ Church it is a duly consecrated building for services according to the laws of the Church of England. I produce the certified plan of the Church. The box would be fixed near against the West door, to the third seat say 3 paces from the door. It is my custom from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to have the doors shut but not fastened. From a communication I received on March 26th I told Kingham to go into the Church and look about. I produce a photograph of the box in the nave. [Cross Examined] Sent Kingham after you because you were to enter the church by a person in my house Deposition of Arthur Kingham of Villa Road Luton on his oath saith. I am a gardener to Dr Punchard I live at 8 Villa Road Luton. On March 26th Dr Punchard told me to go round to the church, I went round the back of the church to the Vestry, I looked about and then went into the church. I looked up the middle passing the choir stalls which are carpeted. I saw a man bending or kneeling down against the Poor Box and saw his arm move and heard something break. I stept into the chancel and man who I identify as the prisoner saw me and ran away. The box produced is the one, it was screwed on a pew end about 3 feet from the ground. He ran down Inkerman Street and through the opening into Cardington Street then up a passage into a yard opposite. I followed him and found him sitting down in a Steam chest on the premises of a Mr Brown, I shut him in and sent for a Policeman, Police Constable Aylott came and I told him prisoner was in the chest. Aylott opened it and prisoner sat inside. He took him into custody. We all three went to the Police Station afterwards I went back to the Church with Aylott and found the box had been prized open the lock and hinges are broken. Aylott who had found a screw driver in the Steam Chest fitted it in the marks on the box. I was present when Brown was asked by Aylott if the screw driver was his and he said “No” [Cross Examined] I heard the noise when you were at the box. I cannot swear the church door was opened or shut Prisoner here said “I was trying to open the steel box the wooden one was open” Deposition of Police Constable William Charles Aylott of The Luton Borough Police Force on his Oath saith: On March 26th Saturday about 2:30 p.m. I was on duty in George Street, In consequence of information received I went to a house in Cardington Street where I saw Kingham. He made a statement to me, I opened a Steam chest door, I saw Prisoner sitting on a Bunch of Straw Plait, I took him into custody charged him with breaking open an offertory box at Christ Church, he replied “I did not take anything I only broke open the box” On searching the Steam chest I found the screw driver produced under the bunch of plait, prisoner was sitting on when first I saw him, I asked Brown the tenant of the Steam chest if the screw driver was his he said “No I never saw it before” Kingham was also present I took him to the Police Station I afterwards went to the Church with Kingham I found the box produced had been forced open. The marks on the box corresponded with the screw driver. I was at the church on Monday evening April 4thth when Mr Jennings unfixed the box opened it in my presence (the inner box) and found 1/71/4 in it. I took possession of the box. [Cross Examined] You said “I only broke the box” not “I tried to break it open” Deposition of Joseph Henry Jennings on his Oath saith I live at Upper George Street Luton and am a Church Warden at Christ Church. I was an ironmonger by trade, the metal box is a construction of my own. I supplied it and fastened it in the Nave of Christ Church. The photo produced shows it in position on the 3rd seat on the left hand side inside the West door. It was about 30 or 32 inches from the floor. On Monday 4th April I took the box down in presence of Aylott, I opened the inner box, I found 1/71/4 in it, I gave the box to the police. It is not customary for the door to be open. Statement of Accused; "I am not guilty of felonisouly entering the Church"

12 pages

item

Punchard, Elgood George,
Kingham, Arthur,
Aylott, William Charles,
Jennings, Joseph Henry,
Sinclair, John

vicar, doctor, policeman, churchwardens, ironmonger, Christchurch, LUTON, Luton Upper George Street, Luton Villa Road