QSR1867/2/5/3

Depositions of William Underwood, bootmaker of Luton. William Fox, innkeeper of Markyate Street, in the counties of Bedford and Hertford. Edward Green, marine store dealer of Luton. James Goodman, innkeeper of Markyate Street. Alfred Carrington, bootmaker of Redbourn. George Smith, inspector of police of Luton. In the case of William Mooren [and Alfred Parrott later discharged] accused of stealing 4 pairs of boots, the value of £2.

1 April 1867

From: 1867 To: 1867

William Underwood: he was a boot and shoe maker and had a shop in George Street, Luton. On Wednesday 20 March, about 7pm, Mooren came to the shop and said he wanted some boots for some navvies and the contractors of the Midland Railway to take to the Railway Hotel. He looked out 4 pairs; 3 marked 11s and one marked 12s 6d. The prisoner said he thought they would do and would he or his young man go with him so they may try them and punch them. The prisoner tied the 4 pairs up in his handkerchief and he went with him to Dudley’s Railway Hotel. They went into a room where there were some navvies. The prisoner went out with the boots and he did not see them again until they were produced at the police station. He gave information to the police and saw the prisoner in custody. They shoes produced were his and were the ones the prisoner had from him. They were worth £2 5s 6d and he would have sold them together for £2. One pair was punched and had laces in it, the others weren’t punched. They had since been punched. He had not given the prisoner the piece of paper with the prices on. He did not remember receiving half a crown from the prisoner on account of the boots. He went with the prisoner, not only to punch the boots, but to receive the money. He went to the police directly that he lost the boots. William Fox: he was the keeper of the Star and Garter public house at Markyate Street. He knew the prisoners Mooren and Parrott and they had been in the house before dinner on Wednesday morning and had gone away about 5pm. They came to the house again, together, the next morning about 9am. One of them was carrying a bag with something in it. Both spoke and said they had some shoes. Mooren said he paid £2 6s for the shoes and that there was £2 left. They asked him to buy some shoes but he did not see them or buy any. They went off towards Harpenden taking the bags with them. They had said they had the boots from Dunstable. Edward Green: he was a marine store dealer at the Blue Lion, Cumberland Street, Luton. He knew the prisoner. They both came to his house about 20 minutes before 8pm on 20 March. They left a little before 8pm. Parrott sold him some things and they had a bag with them but he did not know what was in it. James Goodman: he lived in the White Horse public house, Markyate Street. On 20 March about 9pm the prisoners came to his house. Parrott went in first with a bag on his shoulder. Mooren went in close behind. They sat in the tap room with the bag beside the, and took supper together. Parrott opened the bag and took out 4 pairs of shoes. Parrott asked him to buy them but he said they were too large for him. Parrott asked the other people in the tap room too. Parrott said they had them from an exchange in Dunstable. Mooren and Parrott slept at the house. On the Thursday morning, Mooren offered him the boots for 30 shillings. He noticed 3 pairs of the boots were marked at 11s and 1 pair at 12s 6d. He did not buy them. He tired on one pair but they were too large. 3 of the pairs were not punched and one pair was laced. Alfred Carrington: he was a boot and shoe maker at Redborne. About 10am on Thursday 21 March the 2 prisoners called at his shop. Parrott was carrying a bag and asked for the master. Parrott asked him to punch a pair of boots for him. Parrott took 3 pairs of boots from the bag and he punched them. The forth pair was punched. Parrott paid him 2d for punching them. He asked Mooren where they had the boots from and was told Perry’s at Markyate Street in exchange for some cloth. They went away and Parrott took the bag. Mooren did not show him some paper when he asked him to punch them. Superintendent George Smith: from information received he went on 20 March to Markyate Street and then to St Albans. He met the prisoners in Fishpond Street, St Albans. Mooren was carrying a bag with the shoes in and he caught hold on him. he told them he wanted them for stealing the shoes from Mr Underwood. He saw some shoes in the bag. Mooren said they were the shoes and that he had paid Mr Underwood half a crown for them. Parrott was with him. He took them into custody and charged them. Parrott said he had met Mooren the previous night in Castle Street, Luton and he had told him of 4 pairs of shoes he had from Underwood and that he had given half a crown on them. Parrott said they had gone to the Blue Lion at Luton and on to Markyate Street the same night. He fetched Mr Underwood to the station and shoed him the boots in the presence of Mooren. Mooren said to Underwood that he had given him half a crown on them and Underwood said he had not. He found money on Mooren. Statements of the accused: William Mooren – nothing. Alfred Parrott – he was not guilty of stealing the shoes and merely went with him to Markyate Street. He accidentally ran against him [Mooren] in Castle Street. He had just come from Markyate Street and was going home to hemel Hemspstead. He asked Mooren what he had got and was told 4 pairs of shoes which he had got from Underwood and had paid 2s 6d on them. Mooren asked him to buy them at the last public house in Marykate Street.

item

Mooren, William,
Parrott, Alfred,
Underwood, William,
Fox, William,
Green, Edward,
Goodman, James,
Carrington, Alfred,
Smith, George

LUTON, Luton George Street, Markyate Street, bootmaker, stealing, boots, innkeeper, marine store dealer, Luton Blue Lion