QSR1869/4/5/17

Depositions of Frederick Sharpe, Henry Dickens, John Cook and Benjamin George. In the case of Charles Cook, accused of stealing a florin, a shilling, a penny, a half penny, a velvet hat, one and quarter pounds of bread and meat, half of a half quartern loaf, a pair of trousers, a belt, a pocket handkerchief, a necktie, a linen collar, a purse, a knife, a pipe, four pence in money and a pair of shoes. [3 charges]

22 September 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

Frederick Sharpe: he was a builder employed in the restoration of the Dunstable Church and was lodging at Mr John Cook’s at 10 Cross Street in Dunstable. The prisoner was staying there. He saw the prisoner last at 12 o’clock on Monday night. On Tuesday morning when he went to his trousers, which were in the room in which he slept, he misses form the pocket a florin, a shilling, a penny and a half penny. The money had been loose. He also missed his velvet hat which had hung on a nail in the back of the kitchen. He also missed some bread and meat he had left from his supper, which had been on the kitchen table. There had been about 1 ¼lb. The meat had been pork. He missed half of a half quartern loaf. The prisoner had been in his bedroom when he went to bed and he appeared asleep. The prisoner had gone when he woke the next morning. Mr Cook, Mrs Cook, Mrs Chipperfield (mother of Mrs Cook) and Henry dickens were the other persons in the house. He valued his things, without the money, at 2s 4d ½ and he reported his losses to the police. Henry Dickens: he was a fellow workman and lodged with the last witness. On Tuesday morning he missed a pair of trousers, a waistcoat, a belt, a pocket handkerchief, a neck tie, a linen collar, a purse, a knife, a pipe and 4 or 5 pence in half pennies. He valued his loss at 14s 4s. He had left his clothes on the towel horse in the bedroom at 10.30pm when he went to bed. He missed them at 6am on the Tuesday. He informed the police of his loss. John Cook: he was the grandfather of the prisoner and the prisoner had stayed at his house for more than a month. On Tuesday morning he missed a pair of shoes which he valued at 6 shillings. They had been in a room downstairs on the Sunday night. The prisoner was 15 years old last March and he had bought him up from a child. Superintendent Benjamin George: he received information about the robbery from Sharp and Dickens. He went in search of the prisoner and met him between Barnet and South Mimms. The prisoner was going towards London and was wearing the trousers, vest and some of the other articles. He charged the prisoner with stealing them but the prisoner made no reply. The prisoner subsequently stated he had bought the shoes at Mr Lester’s about 3 weeks ago and that he had he handkerchief in London when he had last been there. He took the prisoner to Dunstable. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Cook, Charles,
Sharpe, Frederick,
Dickens, Henry,
Cook, John,
George, Benjamin

DUNSTABLE, stealing, bread, meat, clothing, money, shoes, builder, Dunstable Cross Street