QSR1869/4/5/22

Depositions of Frederick Smith, police constable of Luton. In the case of Frederick Higgs accused of keeping a common, ill governed and disorderly house.

16 August 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

Frederick Smith: he was in duty, in the company of PC Armstrong, in Dudley Street, Luton between 1am and 2am on the morning of Friday 13 August. Their attention was drawn to the Dudley Arms public house kept by Frederick Higgs by hearing some persons laughing and talking in the parlour. They went to the window and heard male and female voices. The window was unfastened and he got upon the window sill and pulled the curtain a little aside. He saw Annie Pates and Sarah Cruse, both known prostitutes, and a man of about 60 years old. He heard the man say he must go to his hotel and the females told him to “Stay with us Dear and we will go for a walk in the morning”. The landlord was in the bar adjoining and said the man could lay down there and he would fetch a mattress. The landlord went and brought the mattress and some blankets and said if he wanted anything then they must have it as he was going to bed. One of the females said she would have some ginger beer and beer. The other female said she would have a little brandy. He saw the landlord hand 2 glasses of something at the door and say that if they wanted anything more they must rap at the bottom of the stairs and he would come down. The females made a bed up on the floor and then he saw them and the old man undress. The females got into the bed and the old man tucked them up. One of the females said to lock the door and the old man did so and then got into bed between the women. In a minute or two the females said “put out the candle Dear” and the old man got out of the bed again. He then got down and in a short time heard one of the females say “Sally Dear I feel so sick”. He then heard someone get up and vomit. PC Armstrong went away to report the incident and returned with Sergeant Jaquest at about 2.45am. He then rapped at the window shutters. Higgs put his head out of the upstairs window and he told him there was someone in his bar. Higgs replied that he knew that. Sergeant Jaquest told Higgs to let them in and Higgs came down and did so. They went into the parlour and found Sarah Cruse and Annie Pates in bed and the old man between them. They were all undressed. Cruse covered her head over and Jaquest said they must see who they all were. Higgs said it was Cruse and Pates. He and Jaquest went upstairs with the landlord. The landlord went to a bedroom door and said “Kate someone wants to come in”. They went in and found Kate Taylor, a prostitute in bed with a man. Both were undressed. They went to another bedroom door. The landlord knocked and said “Pat put on your dress and open the door someone want to come in”. He heard the key turn from inside and they went in and found Martha Hughes, a prostitute, in bed with a man. Both were undressed. They went downstairs and Sergeant Jaquest said to Higgs that he would report him for harbouring prostitution. Higgs said don’t do that as he would lose is license.

item

Higgs, Frederick,
Smith, Frederick,
Armstrong,
Pates, Annie,
Cruse, Sarah,
Taylor, Kate,
Jaquest, David

LUTON, prostitution, Luton Dudley Street