Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1866/3/5/7
  • Title
    Depositions of Robert Gudgeon, draper's assistant of Luton. George James, sergeant of police of Luton. Roderick Donald Fraser, pawnbroker of Luton. In the case of John Riddell accused of stealing a coat, the value of 16 shillings.
  • Date free text
    25 May 1866
  • Production date
    From: 1866 To: 1866
  • Scope and Content
    Robert Gudgeon: he was an assistant to Mr George William Strange of Wellington Street, Luton. On 25 May he opened the shop and hung upon the door post 2 mixture coats. They were safe there at 5pm. When he closed the shop that night he missed one. He informed Mr Strange and went with him to Luton Police Station. He there saw a coat and knew it to be the property of his master. It was worth 16 shillings. Sergeant George James: on the evening of 25 May he received information and went to the pawnbroker’s shop in Bute Street, Luton. He saw the prisoner there with Mr Fraser. Mr Fraser gave him coat and said the prisoner had brought it to him to pledge. He asked the prisoner how he came by the coat and the prisoner said he bought it of a man in Barnet Street opposite the baker’s shop and had given 9s 6d for it. He detained the prisoner and on getting to the police station the prisoner said “I suppose I may as well tell the truth about it. Two lads who come from London gave it to me in Luton Street and asked me to take it and pawn it for them because they didn’t like to go themselves and that’s all I know about the coat”. The following morning having received further information, he charged the prisoner with stealing the coat. The prisoner said he had not and had been given the coat by the lads. Roderick Donald Fraser: on 25 May, about 7pm the prisoner came to the shop and offered the coat in pledge. The prisoner asked 8s 6d for it and he asked the prisoner how he had come by it. The prisoner said he had bought it in Barnet. He noticed the coat was new and the tabb was broken. He sent for the police. He gave Sergeant James the coat. Statement of the accused: nothing.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
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