QSR1869/3/5/1

Depositions of Thomas Higgs, grocer's assitant of Luton. Thomas Pike, grocer of Luton. William Charles Neville, police constable of Luton. In the case of Mary Eddy accused of stealing a pound of bacon having before been convicted of felony.

12 April 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

Thomas Higgs: he was an assistant to Mr Thomas Pike of Park Street, Luton. The prisoner came to his master’s shop on 3 April about 5pm and bought a quarter pound of sugar, an ounce of tea and 2 pounces of lard. She paid at the other end of the shop for the lard. As he turned around he saw her take a piece of bacon from the counter and she wrapped it up in her shawl. He told her she had a piece of bacon and she denied it. He said he was sure she had and she replied “ I’ve got nothing but this rolling pin and pulled it out of her shawl”. He called his master and before his master came the prisoner took the bacon from her shawl and laid it back down in the counter. He told her she had put it back and she told him to take for her things and to let her go. His master came in and told him what he had seen and a policeman was sent for. PC Neville came and took the prisoner into custody. Mr Pike gave the constable the bacon. Thomas Pike: he was a grocer in Park Street, Luton. On 3 April his assistant called him into the shop. The prisoner was there and from what he was told he said to the prisoner “what did you do it for?” She said she did not do it. He sent for PC Neville and gave her into custody. He gave the bacon to Neville. It was worth 9d. PC William Charles Neville: on 3 April he was fetched by Higgs to go to Mr Pike’s. he found the prisoner and Mr Pike in the shop and Mr Pike gave him a piece of bacon. He took the prisoner into custody and charged her with stealing the bacon. She said she had not stolen it and had only looked at it. She said “I was wiping the salt off my hands on my shawl and that rascal of a boy said that I stole the bacon”. At the police station they found a penny and 2 halfpennies on her. Statement of the accused: she had got nothing to say, only she didn’t take it. She looked at it.

item

Eddy, Mary,
Higgs, Thomas,
Pike, Thomas,
Neville, William Charles

LUTON, Luton Park Street, grocer's assistant, stealing, bacon, grocer