QSR1899/1/5/3b

Depositions of William Cheeseman of George Hotel Luton; William Canning Vaisey of Harpenden; Martin Lucy of Harpenden; Edward Snoxal; Alfred Rainsdon of Harpenden; William Chamberlain of Luton Borough Police; Walter James Hagley of Luton Borough Police. In the Case of Henry Martin accused of feloniously did steal take and carry away one Gladstone Bag containing one pair of boots and wearing apparel value £5 property of [William Edward Dipple Proprietor of George Hotel Luton, the stolen property being the possession Mr Robins a Commercial Traveller]

17th January 1899

From: 1899 To: 1899

This Deponent William Cheeseman on his Oath saith as follows: I am Boots at the George Hotel Luton. I saw Bag produced on the table in the Hall of the hotel last Thursday the 12th inst at about 5 pm. It is the property of Mr Robins a Commercial Traveller. I went for the bag at 7.30pm same day but found it missing. I made enquiries at both Railway Stations and also gave information to the Police. The Bag produced is the one that was on the Hall table on the 12th inst in the care of the Proprietor of the Hotel. The bag was locked when I saw it on the table in the Hall of the hotel. It was the property of Mr. Robins and several of the articles now shown to me bear that name. I value the Bag and contents at £5. This Deponent William Canning Vaisey of the “Old Bell” Public House Harpenden in the said Count of Hertford saith as follows: On Thursday last the 12th inst Prisoner came to my House at about 8 o’C pm. Prisoner was carrying a bag and asked permission to sell a few articles. I gave him permission I bought myself the two night shirts and hair brushes produced. I gave him [1/-] for the two night shirts and 9d for the hair brushes. Prisoner was carrying the articles produced in a sack not the leather bag now produced. This Deponent Martin Lucy of the “Old Bell” Public House Harpenden in the count of Hertford saith as follows: I saw Prisoner last Thursday the 12th inst in the taproom of the “Old Bell” Harpenden. He was selling certain articles. He offered to sell me the [day] shirt and pair of gloves produced for sale 2/- which I gave him. This Deponent Edward Snoxall of Luton Road Harpenden in the said County of Hertford saith as follows: I am a Platelayer in the employ of the Midland Railway Company. On Thursday night last the 12th inst at about 8 o’C. I went to the ‘Old Bell’ P.H. Harpenden. I saw the Prisoner there. He pulled some pocket handkerchiefs from his pocket I gave him 6d for four Handkerchiefs. I also gave him 1/6 for the two shirts produced. My son Charles Edwin Snoxall also bought from Prisoner the boots and Razor produced for which he gave Prisoner 3/6. I also bought from prisoner a Razor. [Strap]. Brush and [Tin] and soap for 6d but I afterwards let prisoner have these articles back and he gave me 10d for them. This Deponent Alfred Rainsdon of Luton Road Harpenden in the county of Hertford saith s follows: I am a Dealer. Last Thursday night the 12th inst at about 8.45 pm I went to the “Old Bell” Harpenden and saw Prisoner there. He offered me the pair of [trousers] produced which I bought for 1/-. This Deponent William Chamberlain of Luton Borough Police Force in the Borough of Luton saith as follows: I am a Detective Sergeant on Thursday last the 12th inst at about 9 o’C pm I received information of the loss of a Brown Gladstone Bag from the Hall table of the “George Hotel” Luton containing wearing apparel. On Monday the 16th inst after Prisoner had been committed for trial on a previous charge I found amongst his property book produced and a piece of soap. I asked him if the articles were his property. He replied “Yes” I asked him [how] he accounted for the possession of the book and he replied “I have had that a long while” I told him the book answered the description of one stolen with a bag from the “George” Hotel last Thursday. He said “Well I don’t want to be locked up again when I have done this time if I tell you the truth will you try and [fit] it on now” I then called the Chief Constable to whom he stated I took the bag and took it into a field between Luton and I think they call it Harpenden where I cut the bag open and took the contents and left the bag in the middle of the field and sold most of the things at a Public House. In company with the Chief Constable I searched a field off the London Road, Luton when I found the bag produced cut open containing seven collars and one pair of cuffs. Some of the articles are marked “ [I] Robins” Slipper produced was laying some 6 or 7 yards away from the bag. Upon further enquiries I received the several articles which have been produced from the various witnesses. This Deponent Walter James Hagley of Luton Borough Police in the said Borough of Luton saith as follows: I had the prisoner in custody on another charge and this morning I further charged the prisoner with stealing the Gladstone Bag produced containing one pair of boots and quantity of wearing apparel from the George Hotel Luton on the 12th inst. In reply Prisoner said “Yes alright sir” Statement of Accused “I have nothing to say”

13 pages

item

Cheeseman, William,
Vaizey, William Canning,
Lucy, Martin,
Snoxall, Edward,
Rainsdon, Alfred,
Chamberlain, William,
Hagley, Walter James,
Martin, Henry,
Dipple, William Edward,
Robins, I

Harpenden, LUTON, George Hotel Luton, Old Bell Public House Harpenden, platelayer, dealer, police, Midland Railway Company, stealing, boots