Peace Day trial: Rose Winifred Bacon

Rose Winifred Bacon, aged 21, of 28 New Street, Luton, and an employee at Hubbard's dye works, first appeared before magistrates on Wednesday, July 23rd, 1919, and was remanded in custody for a week charged with larceny of scent and books, value 10s 6d, the property of Walter Clark [chemist, 83 George Street] and perfume, value 12s 6d, the property of Carl Caspers [hairdresser, 4 Bute Street].

Her case was finally dealt with by magistrates on Friday, August 1st, when Town Clerk William Smith said that, having regard to the suspense and mental strain suffered by two of the women who were charged with rioting and larceny, he had decided to take the responsibility of dropping the rioting allegations, so that the prisoners might be dealt with summarily.

Rose Winifred Bacon was fined 25 shillings in each case, or 10 days. The Bench said the decision arrived at had taken into consideration the number of days the defendant had already spent in prison.

Det-Sgt Arthur Bacon said Rose Winifred Bacon denied having anything until she was questioned about a bottle of scent. Then she said her mother had broken it, and that there was nothing else in the house which was stolen. There were two books on the table, and when asked “What about those books?” she said they were given to her by a soldier.

On searching the house witness found the bottle of scent upstairs after prisoner had tried to conceal it by her coat.

Prisoner: “They were given to me at the bottom of Wellington Street on Saturday night.”

The Town Clerk: “There were a good many generous people about that night”. Witness: “Yes, sir!”