QSR1866/3/5/8

Depositions of Rhoda Clapham, wife of John Aikins Clapham, licensed victualler of Goldington. John Seymour, assistant pawnbroker of 4 Bute Street, Luton. William Smith, police constable of Wilshamstead. In the case of Edward Browning accused of stealing a paisley shawl and a pair of black cloth trousers.

4 June 1866

From: 1866 To: 1866

Rhoda Clapham: the accused came to her home on 28 May about the middle of the day. The prisoner asked if he could lodge at her house. He stayed for 2 nights leaving about 10am on the 30th. She had asked him that morning when he was going to leave and he said he did not know. She told him she had some friends coming and should want the bed. The accused paid her and went away. After he had left she looked about the room in which he had slept but she did not miss anything. Next morning she looked in the drawers in her own room she missed her husband’s trousers and a shawl. She knew nobody but the accused had been upstairs in the house. The drawers had been shut but not locked. John Seymour: he was the assistant to Mr Joseph Butcher, a pawnbroker of 4 Bute Street, Luton. He lived with him. On the evening of Wednesday 30 May the accused pledged the trousers and shawl for 12 shillings. PC William Smith: on 1 June he received the prisoner into his custody at Luton. He received into his possession, from Superintendent Pope, a carpet bag containing some wearing apparel and a bundle tied in a handkerchief. The bundle contained a black cloth coat and trousers, 11s 11d, a box of percussion caps, a pawnbrokers duplicate in the name of Joseph Butcher for a pair of trousers and a shawl, 36 keys, a towel and 2 metal teaspoons. He went with the prisoner to Butcher’s shop and on coming from there the prisoner made a statement that he was sorry and had never been in such a mess before. The prisoner said he had no intention of taking the things but had seen the drawer open and had taken the trousers and shawl out. The prisoner said he had taken them to Luton and pledged them for 12 shillings. The prisoner said he had kept the duplicate and intended sending the money for the things as so as he had got some money.

item

Browning, Edward,
Clapham, Rhoda,
Clapham, John Aikins,
Seymour, John,
Smith, William,
Butcher, Joseph

GOLDINGTON, Luton Bute Street, LUTON, WILSHAMSTEAD, stealing, shawl, trousers, licensed victualler, assistant pawnbroker, lodging houses