QSR1918/4/5/2a(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii

Deposition of William Frederick Mullett for the hearing of Ernest Moulster & Victor Edward Baxter

14th August 1918

From: 1918 To: 1918

This Deponent William Frederick Mullett of 71 Guildford Street Luton on his Oath saith as follows: On the 3rd August 1918 I closed the factory for August week holiday I called at the Warehouse on the 4th 5th 6th & 8th. On the 8th I went about 10.20, everything was alright. On 9th went at 11.30, in consequence of something said to me I found the door of the office had been forced open. Part of a box of cigars and a bottle of whisky were missing. The safe was gone. I went into the yard and found the safe broken open. It had contained only books and papers. Nothing was missing, I identified the cigars produced as my property. The bottle produced has a label of the same brand of whisky as that missing. It was full of whisky when left by me. The value of the whisky and cigars I put at 19s/6d. The axe chisel, screwdriver pair of pincers, hammer, piece of piping and piece of iron produced are my property. They were on my premises, but I cannot swear to the piece of Iron produced. The safe was intact when I left it. (signed ) W.F. Mullett ---------------------------- QSR1918/4/5/2a(iv)(v) This Deponent Horace Henry Vass of 111 Havelock Road Luton on his Oath saith as follows. I am Warehouse man to Mr William Frederick Mullet. On the 3rd August I left the warehouse at 12.30pm I locked up all the premises. The block-house windows were left partly open. I’m a drawer in my office was about 3/- worth of postage stamps in three halfpenny and halfpenny stamps. The drawer was intact then. I went to the premises on the 5th 6th and 7th and found the place all right. On Friday the 9th I went at 10am and found the door of Mr Mullets’ office forced open. No outside door had been forced. The packing room door and my office door were also forced open. The had been locked when I left them. I informed Mr Mullett and the Police. I returned to the warehouse and examined my office. I found the drawer of my desk had been opened, and about 3/- worth of stamps missing. By Moulster The key of the door leading from the warehouse to gateway was turned but left in the lock inside. There was a pane of glass in the door broken. (signed) H. Vass ----------------------------------- QSR1918/4/5/2a(vi) This Deponent Robert Owen Roberts of Luton A Police Constable in the Luton Borough Police Force on his Oath saith as follows:- On August 9th 1918. I assisted P.C. Field in certain enquires. Next morning the 10th I went to the prisoner Baxter’s home in Wenlock Street. In a wooden box in a passage I found the bottle produced. It was empty. On Monday the 12th August the prisoners Moulster said something to me and I went to his home 11 Ebenezer Street. In the back kitchen under a copper fireplace I found the bottle produced containing whisky. (signed) Robert O. Roberts ----------------------------------- QSR1918/4/5/2a(vii) QSR1918/4/5/2a(viii) QSR1918/4/5/2a(ix) QSR1918/4/5/2a(x) QSR1918/4/5/2a(xi) This Deponent Alec Field of Luton on his Oath saith as follows:- I am a Constable in the Luton Borough Police Force. On Friday the 9th instant in consequence of a report I examined the premises of Mr. Mullett in Guildford Street, Luton and found a box placed against the outside fence of Mullets’ premises. On going into the yard, I found the hammer, screwdriver pincers and chisel produced on the ground, over the fence. Further up the yard I saw the safe produced in its present condition. Lying beside it I found the axe, piece of iron and a piece of piping produced. I examined the outside door of the warehouse it was locked. All the windows except the block house windows in the basement were fastened. I entered the warehouse and found the 2 office doors the packing room, a roll top desk and a drawer had been forced. I found the marks on the doors and the desk correspond with such as might have been made by the screwdriver and chisel produced. On one door was a mark which might have been made by the handle of the pincers. I came to the conclusion that entrance had been effected through the block house because one of the windows was free from dust. Accompanied by P.C. Roberts I made enquiries and at 10.30pm saw Moulster at his home 11 Ebenezer Street. I cautioned him and in answer to my questions he made a statement referring to Baxter. I took him to the Police Station, searched him and found the 8 seven-penny Insurance stamps and 7, 1½ postage stamps. Later I saw Baxter at his home I cautioned him and said, “where are those cigars”. He said, “they are in here”. We went to the scullery, he unlocked a wooden box and handed me the 12 cigars produced. I also asked him for a Revolver. He said “that is here, I had it with me yesterday, and he handed me the revolver produced, and 13 cartridges. The pistol was not loaded. I took him to the Police Station and searched him. I found 16 seven-penny Insurance Stamps, 7 three halfpenny, 9 penny and 18 halfpenny stamps. I had him and Moulster together, cautioned then and said to Baxter, “Moulster says about 2.30 he and you went to Williamson Street, got over the gate put a box against the fence and both got over the fence, and got in” Baxter said “that’s quite right.” I charged them together with breaking and entering the warehouse of Mr. Wm F Mullett 71 Guildford Street and stealing therefrom a bottle of whisky, a quantity of cigars and 3/- worth of three half-penny and half-penny stamps, together value £1.2s.6d, the property of Mr. William Frederick Mullett. Baxter said “that’s right”. Moulster said “I can’t say anything: (signed) Alec Field ------------------------------------- QSR1918/4/5/2a(xii) Borough of Luton to Wit: Ernest Moulster stands charged before the undersigned, one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Luton, this 14th day of August in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighteen for that he the said Ernest Moulster on the 8th day of August 1918, at the Borough of Luton, feloniously did break and enter No. 71 Guildford Street and therein feloniously did steal a bottle of whisky and a quantity of cigars and stamps value One Pound two shillings and sixpence, the property of William Frederick Mullett. And the said Charge being read to the said Ernest Moulster and the Witnesses for the Prosecution being severally examined in His presence, the said Ernest Moulster is now addressed by me as follows: “Having heard the evidence, do you wish to say anything in answer to the charge? You are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so; but whatever you say will be taken down in Writing, and may be given in Evidence against you upon your Trial. And you are clearly to understand that you have nothing to hope from any Promise of Favour, and nothing to fear from any Threat, which may have been holden out to you to induce you to make any admission or confession of your guilt, but whatever you shall now say may be given in evidence against you upon your Trial, notwithstanding such promise or Threat”: Whereupon the said Ernest Moulster Saith a follows: Two lads were with us. The had as much of the stuff as we did. Why shouldn’t they be brought in it. Rear of Document Taken before me at the Court House, Luton in the Borough aforesaid on the day and year first above mentioned And immediately after obeying the direction of the 18th Section of the Act Eleventh and Twelfth Victoria, Chapter Forty-Two, I, the said Justice of the Peace, did demand and require of the said Ernest Moulster whether he desired to call any Witness; and thereupon answer to such demand the said Ernest Moulster [neither] called or desired to call [any person or persons] as Witnesses. (signed C. Dillingham ---------------------- QSR1918/4/5/2a(xiii) Borough of Luton to Wit: Victor Edward Baxter stands charged before the undersigned, one on=f His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Luton, this 14th day of August in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighteen for that he the said Victor Edward Baxter on the 8th day of August 1918, at the Borough of Luton, feloniously did break and enter No. 71 Guildford Street and therein feloniously did steal a bottle of whisky and a quantity of cigars and stamps value One Pound two shillings and sixpence, the property of William Frederick Mullett. And the said Charge being read to the said Victor Edward Baxter and the Witnesses for the Prosecution being severally examined in His presence, the said Victor Edward Baxter is now addressed by me as follows: “Having heard the evidence, do you wish to say anything in answer to the charge? You are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so; but whatever you say will be taken down in Writing and may be given in Evidence against you upon your Trial. And you are clearly to understand that you have nothing to hope from any Promise of Favour, and nothing to fear from any Threat, which may have been holden out to you to induce you to make any admission or confession of your guilt, but whatever you shall now say may be given in evidence against you upon your Trial, notwithstanding such promise or Threat”: Whereupon the said Victor Edward Baxter Saith a follows: I have nothing to say. Rear of Document Taken before me at the Court House, Luton in the Borough aforesaid on the day and year first above mentioned. And immediately after obeying the direction of the 18th Section of the Act Eleventh and Twelfth Victoria, Chapter Forty-Two, I, the said Justice of the Peace, did demand and require of the said Victor Edward Baxter whether he desired to call any Witness; and thereupon answer to such demand the said Victor Edward Baxter [neither] called or desired to call [any person or persons] as Witnesses. (signed C. Dillingham

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item

Mullett, William Frederick,
Moulster, Ernest,
Baxter, Victor Edward,
Mullett, William Frederick,
Dillingham, C

Luton Guildford Street, Luton Ebenezer Street, postage stamp, breaking & entering, screwdriver, whisky, cigars