QSR1897/4/5/3b,4b

Depositions of William Harry Wren, Joseph Hearne, William Chamberlain and George Edward Harman. In the case of Charles Wood, accused of stealing a hearth rug, and Frederick Barber, accused of receiving the rug knowing it to have been stolen.

8 September 1897

From: 1897 To: 1897

William Harry Wren: a furniture dealer of Park Square, Luton. On the morning of 20th August he went to his shop early and counted the rugs in each fixture and placed one rug on the counter. On returning to the shop shortly after 9am he missed the rug from the counter. He later identified the rug as his property by the private mark he had placed on it. Joseph Hearne: a butcher of Park Square, Luton. On 20th August the prisoner, Frederick Barber, came into his shop about 8.15am. The prisoner said that he had another rug which he could have for 3 shillings. He said to the prisoner that he did not want the rug. The prisoner said that the rug was in the pawnbrokers shop and he gave the prisoner 3 shillings to fetch the rug. The prisoner did not show him any pawn ticket for the rug. About 10 minutes later the prisoner returned with the rug. He said to the prisoner that he had fetched the rug quickly and the prisoner replied that he wanted to get to the pawnbrokers before it got busy. The prisoner left the rug with him and he subsequently handed it to the police. George Edward Harman: a pawnbroker of Park Street, Luton. He did not receive the rug produced at his establishment. William Chamberlain: a detective sergeant of the Luton Borough Police Force. On 1st September he received the rug from Mr. Hearne. On 8th September the rug was shown to the prisoner, Barber, and he told the prisoner that it had been identified by Mr. Wren as having been stolen from his shop on 20th August. He asked the prisoner for an explanation for the rug having been in his possession. The prisoner replied that he could not. He then charged the prisoner, Charles Wood, with stealing the hearth rug, and the prisoner, Frederick Barber, with receiving the rug knowing it to have been stolen. Both prisoners made no reply. Charles Wood: Nothing to say Frederick Barber: Guilty of receiving William Harry Wren: On the morning of the 18th August he counted the rugs in several fixtures before the prisoner, Charles Wood, came. He locked the shop up and went to his house for breakfast. About 9.15am he returned to his shop and counted the rugs again to find one missing. He later identified the rug as his by the private sale mark. Joseph Hearne: The prisoner, Barber, came to his shop on 14th August. The prisoner asked him if he would buy a pawn ticket for a hearth rug. The date of the ticket was 13th August and the pawnbroker was Mr. Harman. He kept the ticket for a few days and did not attempt to redeem the article. On the following Tuesday the prisoner, Barber, came to him again and said that he would fetch the rug for him. He replied that he did not have the pawn ticket at his shop; however, the prisoner replied that he would still go and fetch the rug. Later on he gave the prisoner the ticket and 3 shillings sixpence to redeem the article. The prisoner went away with them and returned to the shop with the rug. He had no reason to doubt the honesty of the prisoner but from information received he contacted the police. George Edward Harman: On 13th August the prisoner, Barber, pledged a new hearth rug with him. He advanced the prisoner 3 shillings on it. The rug has never been redeemed and is still in his possession. [Cross-Examined] The rug produced has never been in his possession. William Chamberlain: On 31st August he apprehended the prisoners on previous charges and on 1st September he received the rug produced from Mr. Hearne. On 8th September he showed the rug to the prisoner, Barber, and told him that it had been identified by Mr. Wren as having been stolen from his shop and disposed of at the butcher’s shop. He asked the prisoner how did accounted for his possession of the rug and the prisoner replied that the rug was his own property. The prisoner gave no further explanation. He charged the prisoner, Charles Wood, with stealing the rug from Mr. Wren’s shop on 18th August, and the prisoner, Frederick Barber, with receiving the rug knowing it to have been stolen. Both prisoners made no reply. Charles Wood: Nothing to say Frederick Barber: Guilty of receiving

item

Barber, Frederick,
Wood, Charles,
Wren, William Harry,
Hearne, Joseph,
Harman, George Edward,
Chamberlain, William

LUTON, detective, butcher, pawnbroker, dealer, stealing, furniture