QSR1898/4/5/9a

The Examination of Charles William Deacon of Chapel Street in the Borough of Luton and of William Chamberlain, Detective, Sergeant In the case of Frank Taylor on Saturday the third day of September One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight at the Borough of Luton aforesaid, feloniously did steal take and carry away a quantity of beans of the value of five shillings the property of Charles William Deacon.

21st September 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

This Deponent Charles William Deacon on his Oath saith as follows: I am a corn merchant and have business premises in Chapel Street Luton. On Saturday 3rd Sept. inst my Miller reported that some beans had been taken from the mill. In consequence I searched the premises and found some beans in a bag in the stable under some straw. I had my premises watched and the result reported to me. On the [6th] inst when I asked the prisoner about the corn he sent to Burgess and the beans he was seen to take away from the yard on Saturday night. He said “It was only a little feed I took to Elizabeth St Luton”. I said to “Underwoods” He said “Yes” I said “How much money did you get”. He said “6d” I also asked him about some previous lots that I had missed. He replied “I have had no corn but a little chaff” on Wednesday the 7th inst I went in company of Sergt. Chamberlain to Underwood’s premises and found in the stable the beans mixed with other similar mixture to my own. This Deponent William Chamberlain of Luton in the Borough of Luton saith as follows: - I am a Detective Sergeant for the Boro’ of Luton. On Wednesday 7th Sept. inst I searched the stable of Joseph Underwood Elizabeth Street Luton and found about three pecks of corn in a tin which Mr Deacon afterwards identified as having been stolen from his yard on Saturday the 3rd inst. On the 14th inst I charged Prisoner who was then in custody with stealing a quantity of beans on the 3rd Sept the property of his Master. He replied “I shall speak the truth” Statement of Accused: - “I have nothing to say” Voluntary Statement from Prisoner: - Original Document in folder case number (QSR1898/4/5/9b) Frank Taylor a Prisoner now in Custody wish to make a Voluntary statement. If it had not been for certain people I should not have been here now. I refer to Joseph Underwood and Amos Burgess. When I was busy about my work trying to get an honest living these men came to me Underwood came first and asked me whether I could get him come corn and chaff. He said I will give you something for it. I told him that I would see if I could - I would - this would be about a fortnight ago today (and that would August 31st) and on the following Saturday I took him about a Bushel and half of Beans - I had previously took him half Bushel or there abouts of mixture for which he gave me 6d and he also gave me one shilling for the Beans - Amos Burgess came to me on the Monday night before I was arrested on the Tuesday. He said could you take me 2 bushels of chaff he added – here’s a tanner for you – handing me 6d and said anytime when you want a shilling you know where to come for it – of the 6d he gave me I gave my mate 3d and kept the other 3d myself – and the next day Tuesday I sent my mate with a bag of chaff and about two Bushel of Beans to Amos Burgess house in Windsor Street - he afterward told me that he had took it – I was arrested the same night – I want to say that if it had not been for Joseph Underwood telling me to get the stuff for him and tempting me I should never thought of taking it and I should have been at my place of work now. Signed this 14th day of Sept. 1898 in the presence of Charles Rogers Inspector

5 pages

item

Deacon, Charles William,
Chamberlain, William,
Taylor, Frank,
Underwood, Joseph,
Burgess, Amos

Luton Chapel Street, Luton Elizabeth Street, LUTON, detective, corn merchant, stealing