QSR1898/4/5/11

The Examination of Mary Ann Clark of 164 High Town Road Luton; Walter David Bird of 124 Wenlock Street Luton, Boot and Shoe Maker; Emily Clarke 16 Back Street Luton; Alfred Gale of 7 High Town Road, Luton, Pawnbroker; William Chamberlain Detective Sergeant of Luton. In the case of Frederick Thompson accused of feloniously did steal take and carry away one pair of Lady’s Boots value 6/- the property of Mary Ann Clarke.

19th October 1998

From: 1898 To: 1898

This Deponent Mary Ann Clark on her Oath saith as follows I am the wife of Edward Clarke and reside 164 High Town Road Luton. On Friday the 7th October inst. I sent my boots to Mr Birds shop in Wenlock St. Luton to have the buttons fastened on. The boots produced are the ones I sent and belong to me. I value them at 6/- , This Deponent Walter David Bird of 124 Wenlock Street in the said Borough of Luton, saith as follows: - I am a boot and shoe maker. On Friday the 7th October inst boots produced were brought to me to have the buttons fastened on. I stood them on the bench where they remained till tea time. After tea I missed them I gave information to the Police. This Deponent Emily Clark of 16 Back Street in the said Borough of Luton, saith as follows: - I am the wife of James Clarke. On Friday the 7th October inst. I saw Prisoner in Back Street about 5 o’c. He said he had bought a pair of boots from a person outside the Coopers Arms. He pulled the boots from under his Jersey and asked me to buy them. I could not because I had no money. He asked me to go and pledge them. I did so but Mr. Gale the Pawnbroker refused to take them. I left the boots. I went and told Prisoner. Later on I bought a Pawn ticket for the boots from Prisoner for 2/- I redeemed boots on Saturday following but they were not large enough for my [daughter] This Deponent Alfred Gale of 7 High Town Road in the said borough of Luton saith as follows; _ I am a Pawnbroker. On Friday the 7th inst witness Emily Clarke brought boots produced to me to pledge. I refused to pledge them and sent her for the man they belonged to. Prisoner came I asked him where he got them from. He said He bought them in the Bedford Road from a travelling woman. I advanced 1/3 and gave information to police. On Saturday following they were redeemed. This Deponent William Chamberlain Detective Sergeant for the said Borough of Luton, saith as follows: - On Saturday the 8th inst I saw the boots produced at Mr. Gales Pawnshop I afterwards received information they had been stolen from inquiries which I made I found they had been pledged at Mr W. J Butchers another Pawnbroker by witness Emily Clark. On the 10th I arrested Prisoner and charged him with stealing a pair of boots from the shop of Mr Bird in Wenlock Street Luton on Friday the 7th inst. He replied “Yes” When remanded he said he bought them off a woman in Bute Street by the Coopers Arms for 8d The boots produced I received at Mr Butchers shop. Statement of Accused: Frederick Thompson I will give evidence on oath - On the 7th of this month I see a woman on the Road to Bedford a little girl was along with her. She asked me if I wanted to buy a pair of boots. She said they was on the Road without any lodgings. She asked me a shilling. I told her I had only eight pence. I gave her the 8 pence and she gave me the boots. I shoved them under my jersey and went down Back Street High Town. I asked the witness Emily Clark if she wanted to buy a pair of boots. She said being Friday night she had no money. I asked her if she would pledge them for me. She looked them away and came back without them and Mr Gale wanted my name. I went up and he asked me where I stopped and my name. I asked him for fifteen [pence] and he gave it to me. I did not know they were stolen or I should not have took them. On the 10th October Detective Sergeant Chamberlain came to me and said I want some information about a pair of boots I told him all right and went with him to Police Station. I have no witnesses to call

11 pages

item

Clark, Mary Ann,
Bird, Walter David,
Clarke, Emily,
Gale, Alfred,
Chamberlain, William,
Butcher, William

Luton High Town Road, Luton Wenlock Street, Luton Back Street, Luton High Town Road, LUTON, Luton Bute Street, boot maker, pawnbroker, detective, boots, stealing