QSR1866/4/5/7

Depositions of Thomas Nicholls, tailor of Dunstable. Sarah Denton, wife of John, beerhouse keeper of Dunstable. Annie Turvey, spinster of Dunstable. Hannah Turpin, wife of Jabez, labourer of Dunstable. Roderick Donald Fraser, pawnbroker of Luton. George Case, police constable of Luton. In the case of Rosetta Henshaw accused of stealing a coat, the value of £3.

10 September 1866

From: 1866 To: 1866

Thomas Nicholls: he was a tailor and lived at Dunstable. On Saturday 1 September he went to Church Street Railway Station in Houghton Regis to meet Mr Elliott and Mr David Jones. He helped Smith, the game keeper, carry the luggage to the First and Last public house at Dunstable. About 9.30am he saw the overcoat lying on a table in the parlour at the First and Last. It was safe then. He went with Mr Jones to the First and Last about 6.30pm that evening and the coat had gone. The coat produced was the same that had been seen at the First and Last and was the property of Mr David Jones. It was worth £3. Sarah Denton: she was wife of John Denton who kept the First and Last beerhouse at Dunstable. On 1 September, between 7am and 8am, Nicholls and Smith the keeper brought some luggage to the house. He noticed a brown overcoat with the luggage. He put the coat on the table in the parlour and it was safe there between 2pm and 3pm. He went out and returned about 6.30pm. Mr Jones called for the coat but he could not find it. Ann Turvey: she lived with her aunt Mrs Denton at the First and Last beerhouse at Dunstable. On the afternoon of Saturday 1 September his aunt went out about 3pm and left her at home. She went out of the house soon after, to nearly by the Railway bridge to play. While she was there she saw a woman come out of the house. She thought it was the prisoner. She went up to the woman and was asked “Do you want any caps?” The woman had a basket on her arm. The woman went on up the town. Hannah Turpin: she was the wife of Jabez Turpin and she lived next door to the First and Last beer house. On Saturday 1 September she saw Annie Turvey against the Railway bridge. She went to her and spoke to her. Whilst she was doing so, Annie said to her that there was a woman standing at their door. She saw a woman there in a black bonnet and shawl. She believed the prisoner to be the woman. She left Annie talking to the woman at the door. Roderick Donald Fraser: he was a pawnbroker in partnership with Joseph Butcher at Bute Street, Luton. On 1 September, between 7 and 8pm, a man brought a coat wanting to pledge it. The man came to the wrong part of the shop. The man went out and a woman came in wanting to pledge it. He asked her how she had come by it as he had suspicions about the coat. He sent for PC Case who came and took the woman into custody. PC George Case: on 1 September he was called to Mr Fraser’s pawnbrokers. He went there and was given the coat. He charged the prisoner with stealing the coat. The prisoner said she had not stolen it but had been given it by a man to pledge. Statement of the accused: she was innocent of stealing it. The man she met asked her to go and pledge it for him. She have not stolen it.

item

Henshaw, Rosetta,
Nicholls, Thomas,
Denton, Sarah,
Denton, John,
Turvey, Annie,
Turpin, Hannah,
Turpin, Jabez,
Fraser, Roderick Donald,
Case, George

DUNSTABLE, LUTON, stealing, coat, tailor, beerhouse keeper, pawnbroker, Dunstable First & Last