The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

  HUGHES, Frederick (25, gold blocker), and   FRANKLIN, William (26, dealer) , breaking and entering the warehouse of   Charles Frederick Kendrew and others and stealing therein a quantity of hosiery and other articles, their goods.

Mr. Dodson prosecuted; Mr. Purcell defended Hughes.

  ERNEST FREDERICK GROVES , 51, Chenies Road, Leytonstone, packer to Kendrew and Co., 5 and 6, Bridgewater Street, City. My firm occupy the basement and the ground floor. On Tuesday, March 21, at 1 p.m., I left the premises secured with a padlock; I returned at 2 p.m. and found the basement door unfastened, a parcel lying inside and the padlock lying outside. There was missing a case of ribbons, a small box of Chinese buttons or studs, and a box of otto of roses, some hosiery, and some ladies divided skirts. Part of the case produced

is like that which contained the ribbons, wrappers produced are the outside wrapper of the hosiery—I can tell by the label.

  GEORGE SANDS , 2, Brooksby Street, Islington, grocer. I collect rents of stables 7 and 8, Brooksby Street. On February 24 Franklin, giving the name of Smith and Sons, inquired about the stables. On March 16 or 18, at 4 p.m., Hughes came again about them and I handed him the key.

Cross-examined by Mr. Purcell. There were customers in the shop when Hughes came; he was there about five minutes; he asked about the rent. Franklin, on the first occasion, asked the rent and what deposit was required; I said aweek's rent; he said the governor would call. Between March 16 and 18 both prisoners came; Franklin came afterwardsalong and I handed him the keys. I picked out the prisoners at Moor Lane Police Station from a number of others.

----   NEWMAN , chimney sweep, Kingsland. My mother owns a pony and four-wheeled wagon. On March 20 Hughes engaged the pony and trap to do some moving on the following day at 12 noon. On April 8 I picked Hughes out from a number of other men at the station.

Cross-examined. Hughes was a stranger to me—he came between 2 and 3 p.m. and was there about five or six minutes. When I picked Lim out the other men were both fair and dark; there was no other men like him.

Re-examined. Hughes told me he wanted the van sent to Bridport Place.

Detective   FRANCIS BRADSHAW , City. On March 21, at 1.10 p.m, I was at the Barbican corner of Bridgewater Street when I saw the two prisoners leaving Kendrew and Co., Franklin carrying some parcels, Hughes carrying a packing case, and a third man carrying parcels. They placed them in a van standing inside the doorway. During the preceding three weeks I had repeatedly seen the three men togther in Beech Street and Bridgewater Street loitering. The van was the one belonging to Newman. There was a fourth man in charge of the van. I went to telephone for assistance at the corner of Golden Lane; when I returned the van was moving off rapidly and I lost sight of it. On March 22 I saw Franklin in a public house at Hoxton, called him out, and said, "I am a police officer and I am going totake you into custody for being concerned with three other men not in custody in breaking and entering a ware-house, 5 and 6, Bridgewater Street, and stealing a quantity of drapery yesterday." On the way to the station he said, "How do you make it three other men?" I said, "There were two besides you carrying the goods out and a fourth man in charge of the horse."He said, "I did not know you counted the driver."When formally charged he said, "All right, I understand."On April 7 I saw Hughes in a public-house in East Road, Hoxton. I called him out and said, "I am a police officer, and I am going to arrest you."He said, "What for? Are you going to put me up for identification for something? "I said, "No, I am going to charge you with being concerned with William Franklin and two other men who are not in custody in breaking

and entering 5 and 6, Bridgewater Street and stealing a quantity of ribbons and other articles on the 21st of last month." He said, "All right. Don't hold me, I will walk with you." He was formally charged at the police station; he made no reply and refused his address. On March 31 I went to 7 and 8, Brooksby Mews, searched the unoccupied stables, and found portion of packing case and various wrappers (produced). The stables had not been recently used for horses and was empty except for the articles produced.

Cross-examined. I had nothing to do with arranging for the identification. I have not made a mistake about Hughes. (To Franklin.) I did not ask Franklin what he had done with the van-load of stuff. I did not ask him at the station "What has become of the other three?" I did not say he was a fool to take it on his own shoulders, nor did I offer to give his mother half a sovereign if he would tell who the other three were. I was in the room where the Identification took place, but took no part in it.

  WILLIAM BARRY , assistant to Simmonds and Co. My firm are the sole agents for otto of roses made by Orisoff, of Bulgaria; label (produced) is similar to that on a case sold to Kendrew.

  HERBERT HAMBROOK , 32, St. John's Road, Hoxton, carman to Newman (called by request of Mr. Purcell).

Cross-examined. I was called by the prosecution at the police court. I made a statement to Detective Bradshaw. I took Newman's pony and van to 82, Bridport Place. On the way a tall, dark, clean-shaven fellow, whom I have not seen since, asked, "Have you come from Mr. Newman?" and told me to drive round to Golden Lane. I drove to Bridgewater Street, when a short man, whom I have not seen since, joined us, the two men fetched out some 15 or 20 packages and acase from Kendrew's warehouse. The first man then jumped up and told me to drive to Liverpool Road. We proceeded to the mews in Brooksby Street, where the goods were taken into the stable. He paid me 3s. for the van and 6d. for myself. I never saw Hughes. (To Franklin.) I have never seen Franklin before.

Re-examined. I was told by Newman to go to 82, Bridport Place to do a moving job—I thought it was to move furniture. I took no notice about that when the man told me to drive to Golden Lane. The van is generally used formoving furniture, frequently of a night time.

(Defence.)

  FREDERICK HUGHES (prisoner, on oath). I have never been charged before. I have been employed by Snood of the "Jack of Newbury "public-house, Chiswell Street, for over 12 months. I was recommended there by Mr. White, of Whitbread's Brewery, who had known me 18 months. I then worked for H. J. Cable, 68, Bodney Street, fancy box manufacturer. I have an excellent character since I was 14 years old. I was three years with Vokes, "Brewer's Arms," Chatham, after going to the "Mitre Hotel," Chatham, where I was

head boots for two years. I was then employed at the "Duke of Gloucester," John Street, Islington. I have asked the police to make inquiries. On March 20, 21, and 22 I was working for Noble, doing gold-blocking; I produce three orders of those dates for the work I did. They are addressed to Twitchings, who is my intended father-in-law; I did the work at his place, 46, Bridport Street, and on his machine. I live at 46, Bridport Street. I never saw Newman; never went about the stable, and was not in Bridgewater Street on the day named. It is a mistake of identity. When the officer says I was loitering in Bridgewater Street I was at work at the "Jack of Newbury," which I left the first Monday in March.

Cross-examined. I had no more work to do for Noble after March 22. I had learned the gold blocking by working for Gray for 12 months two or three years ago. Twitchings is a foreman to Whitehead and Co., fancy box makers. Twitchings has a machine and does work in his spare time.

  HENRY JAMES NOBLE , 68 and 69, Britannia Street, Hoxton. I have been in business for 20 years as a fancy box manufacturer and have employed Hughes under the name of E. Hughes and Co. Orders dated March 20, 21, and 23, addressed to Twitchings, were intended for Hughes; they are written by my son, who knows Twitchings very well as the intended father-in-law of Hughes. The order of March 21 is for 24 gross of gold blocking, which would be 6s. worth of work. All the goods were delivered. I have known Hughes about 18 months as working for me and never heard anything against him.

Cross-examined. I know Twitchings as having a very good berth as foreman. The whole of the work in the three orders produced would come to 36s.

  HENRY TWITCHINGS , 36, Bridport Place, Hoxton, gold blocker. I have been for 20 years foreman to Whitehead and Co., 7, Bath Buildings, fancy box manufacturers. I have a machine, and in the evening have been working on my own account with Hughes under the name of E. Hughes and Co. Hughes is my intended son-in-law. He learned the business from Mr. Gray. I produce printed heading and memorandum form. On March 20, 21, and 23 I received goods from Noble to do 72 gross of gold blocking; the orders are in Noble, jun.'s handwriting, who has put my name instead of E. Hughes and Co. On March 21 the material for the first order arrived before I left at 8.45 a.m. I returned to dinner at 1.10 p.m. and dined with my children and with Hughes. The work was in progress, and I told Hughes to send them in as soon as they were done. When I returned home at 8.30 p.m. the goods had been sent to Noble's. I have known Hughes for five years; he has always borne the character of an honest and hard-working man. The gold blocking consists in stamping cardboard and other material with names, etc., for making fancy boxes.

Cross-examined. I carry on business under the name of E. Hughes and Co. because I do not want my firm to know of my doing work on my own account. Bridgewater Street is about 20 minutes' walk from Bridport Place.

  WILLIAM GRAY , partner of Gray, Webb and Co., 57, Great Chart Street, gold blockers, printers, etc. I have known Hughes five or six years as an honest and hard-working man. From January to September, 1909, he worked for me; I taught him the business of gold blocking.

  FRANCIS BRADSHAW , recalled, cross-examined by Franklin. I did not attempt to arrest the four men on March 21 because there were four of them—I went 50 yards to the corner of Golden Lane to telephone for assistance. After arresting Franklin at 9.30, he was not formally charged till 5.30 p.m. In the public-house I told him what he would be charged with. I saw the van leaving and going through Cripplegate Street at too rapid a pace for me to catch up to it.

Verdict (both), Guilty.

Previous conviction proved against Franklin: August 23, 1909, Old Street, three months' hard labour as a rogue and vagabond.

Sentences: Hughes, Nine months' hard labour; Franklin, 12 months' hard labour.

BEFORE JUDGE LUMLEY SMITH.

(Monday, May 1.)