QSR1866/1/5/7b,9b,10

Depositions of James Addison Taylor, poulterer of Luton. Thomas Taylor of Luton. William Jakins, butcher of Luton. Thomas Nash, dealer in rags and bone of Luton. George Smith, police sergeant of Luton. James Haynes, police constable of Luton and Frederick Cook, blocker of Luton. In the case of James Kempston and Charles Cook accused of stealing 4 dead fowls and William Tooley accused of receiving said fowls.

20 November 1865

From: 1865 To: 1866

James Addison Taylor: he was a poulterer at 9 Park Street, Luton. On the afternoon of 7 November he left home leaving there 8 fowls picked and trussed ready for sale. They were lying on a board in the shop window. The window was wide open. He came back and missed 4 fowls. He had not seen them since. They were worth 9 shillings. Thomas Taylor: son of the last witness. On 7 November about 4pm he shut the shop window. There were 8 fowls ion the board then. About 6.30pm he heard the window go up while he was in the house. He went into the shop and found the window half way open and 4 fowls gone. When his father came home he told him about it. William Jakins: he lived at 28 Park Street West, Luton, opposite Mr Taylor’s shop. On 7 November he saw Kempston and Cook and a lad named Nash with half a dozen yards of the shop window. One was standing back to the wall and the other 2 were facing him. It was a dark wet night. Thomas Nash: a rag and bone man of Luton. On 7 November he was in Park Street West. He saw the prisoners Cook and Kempston up against Mr Taylor’s shop. He saw them slip up the window and take out 2 fowls each. They took them to William Tooley at the Elephant and Castle beer house and sold them for 3s 4d and a quart of beer. He saw them take the money. He drank part of the beer. Tooley told them that any time they had ducks or fowls they should bring them to him and if he wasn’t there then his wife would buy them. He went home. He had followed Cook and Kempston to the Elephant and Castle and Tooley had paid them at the Tap Room table. He had not stolen the fowls. He was not in the churchyard that night and did not touch a fowl. Sergeant George Smith: on 18 November the prisoner Tooley was in custody on another charge. He charged him with receiving 4 fowls from Cook and Kempston well knowing them to be stolen. Tooley replied “well if I am to be charged with it I must”. PC James Haynes: on 11 November the witness Thomas Nash was in custody on another charge, when Cook and Kempston were brought in on the present charge. Whilst the 3 of them were together he asked Nash if they were the men he had seen taken the fowls. Nash said they were. He charged Cook and Kempston. Cook said he had not touched them and neither could say he had. Kemspton said “now you are rounded upon me I will round upon you” and then he referred to another case. Statements of the accused: Cook – he did not steal them. Kemspton – he was guilty. Tooley – he was not guilty. Witness on behalf of William Tooley: Frederick Cook – he was a blocker residing in Luton. On 7 November he went to Hitchin and Tooley asked him for a ride. They left at 10am and left Hitchin about 7.30pm, arriving at Luton about 9pm.

item

Taylor, James Addison,
Taylor, Thomas,
Jakins, William,
Nash, Thomas,
Smith, George,
Haynes, James,
Cook, Frederick,
Kempston, James,
Cook, Charles,
Tooley, William

LUTON, Luton Park Street West, poulterer, stealing, butcher, fowls, blocker, dealer, receiving stolen goods, beer houses