QSR1866/3/5/10

Depositions of Roderick Donald Fraser, pawnbroker of Luton and wife Sarah. George James, police sergant of Luton. Samuel Brace, police constable of Luton. In the case of Maria Johnson accused of stealing a green dress and other articles, together the value of £6 13s and a calico sheet and other articles the value of £1.

18 June 1866

From: 1866 To: 1866

Sarah Fraser: wife of Roderick Donald Fraser, a pawnbroker of Bute Street in Luton. Her husband was in partnership with her father Joseph Butcher. On 8 June the prisoner came to her house as a charwoman and had been employed by her for some time. On 8 June about 9am she found a green dress in the wood cellar in the back kitchen. The green dress produced was the same as she had found and it was one which they had for sale. The dress belonged to her father and her husband and had their private mark on it. In consequence of finding the dress, she watched the prisoner who was then cleaning the upstairs rooms. About 11am the prisoner came down the stairs with a carpet in her hand and brought it into the back kitchen where she was standing and laid it down. When the prisoner had gone she looked in the carpet and among the articles she found 2 pieces of black silk and a piece of calico. They were her husband and fathers property and were pledged goods. About 11.30am Sergeant James came and brought a bundle out of the wood cellar. It was examined in her presence and in addition to the items already found there was a green and black plaid dress piece, a table cloth, 2 night dresses, 2 petticoats and a pair of boots. They were the property of her husband and father. There was also a sheet and a piece of brown coburg in the bundle which belonged to her husband. Later on the same day Sergeant James showed her a white jacket, a blanket and a child’s frock. These were her husbands own property. The only other person in the house was her little girl who she sent out with the child. Roderick Donald Fraser: a pawnbroker in partnership with Joseph Butcher. On 8 June in consequence of what his wife told him, he went into the wood cellar and found a bundle there with the green dress. He returned to the bundle about an hour afterwards and the bundle also contained 2 white skirts, remnants of calico, 2 remnants of black silk, a table cloth, remnants of plaid stuff, 2 night shirts and a pair of women’s boots. They were the property of himself and his partner and were worth £6. Some were pledged and some goods for sale. The bundle also contained a calico sheet and remnants of brown coburg which were his own property. Sergeant James afterwards showed him the white jacket, the blanket and child’s frock. There were all his own property. He was with James when they were found in the prisoner’s house. The silk handkerchief was part of their pledged stock and was found in a box in the prisoner’s bedroom. PC Brace showed him an embroidered child’s cape which was part of their pledged stock, as were the black quilted petticoats. Sergeant George James: on 8 June he was sent for to Messrs Butcher and Fraser’s in Bute Street, Luton. He saw the prisoner there and from information received went into the cellar of the back kitchen and there found a bundle tied in a table cloth. [List of items found]. The prisoner was given into his custody and he charged her with stealing the articles. The prisoners said “I am sure I did not”. The same day he went with Mr Fraser to the prisoner’s house and they found a handkerchief, a white jacket and child’s frock. Mr Fraser identified them as his property. He made a further search the same day and found a blanket upon the prisoner’s bed. Mr Fraser identified it. He charged the prisoner with stealing these items the next day and she replied “I am sure I never stole anything “. PC Samuel Brace: on Friday 8 June he was in charge of Luton police station. The prisoner was brought to the station and he told her she must take everything out of her pocket before she went into the cell. The prisoner took from her pocket an embroidered cape. He showed it to Mr Fraser who identified it as belonging to himself and his partner. From what he heard he told the prisoner she must remove her petticoat but the prisoner said she did not have one on. He put the prisoner in another cell and on searching the cell he found a petticoat in the water closet. He showed it to Mr Fraser and he identified it. Statement of the accused: “I am not guilty sir”

item

Johnson, Maria,
Fraser, Roderick Donald,
Fraser, Sarah,
James, George,
Brace, Samuel,
Butcher, Joseph

LUTON, Luton Bute Street, pawnbroker, stealing, dress, clothing, calico, charwoman