QSR1832/3/5/28

Depositions of Jonathan Attwood, shoemaker of Luton. John Field, constable of Luton. Fanny Short, wife of Joseph, dealer of Tring. Mary Burge, single woman of Luton. In the case of Thomas Allum accused of stealing a coat.

22 May 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

Jonathan Attwood: about 12 noon the previous day he went home from his work and missed a frock coat which he had left in his bedroom. He suspected Thomas Allum of taking it because he lodged with him in his mother’s house and she had told him that Allum had been in about half an hour before and had left with a bundle. He searched for Allum and found him at the Nags Head public house where he denied having the coat. He then went to the constable and told him to see after Allum. John Field: Jonathan Attwood came to him about 2.30pm and said he had lost a frock coat and told him to look after Thomas Allum who he thought had it. He found Allum in Seven Acres at the back of Luton and took him to the Wheatsheaf. He told the prisoner the charge and asked him what he had to say about it. Attwood was with them. Allum said he had taken it and had sent it off in a parcel to his friends. Allum offered to pay anything to stop any trouble. Allum sent he had sent it by Mr Short of Tring. Fanny Short: on the morning of 21 May Mary Burge of The Crown Inn, Luton pointed out 3 bundles to her which she said Thomas Allum had left for her to take home with her and that he said he should beg a ride to Tring with her husband. She took the bundles. When they were going to start Mary Burge told her that Allum had walked on but they saw nothing of him on the road. They took the bundles home with them and next day Jonathan Attwood came to the house and said he had come to search Allum’s bundles for a coat which he had lost. Attwood untied the bundles and found a frock coat which he claimed as his property. Her husband then told Attwood that he should not let the coat go out of their possession until he had been before a magistrate or he should give it up to a constable. Mary Burge: on 21 May Thomas Allum brought several bundles to her tied together. He told her to give them to Mrs Short. She did so and Mrs Short took them away.

item

Allum, Thomas,
Field, John,
Attwood, Jonathan,
Short, Fanny,
Short, Joseph,
Burge, Mary

LUTON, Tring, stealing, coat, shoemaker, Luton Crown