QSR1842/3/5/22

Depositions and examination - Sarah Clarke

8 May 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

Robert Furze of Ampthill, corn factor - Sarah Clarke has been in his service for over a year and a half. That morning as he was at breakfast he saw her in an adjoining room near a bureau at which he had been writing, in a drawer of which there was some silver. He suddenly opened the door and asked what she was doing. She replied nothing, but later said she was going to move a paper. From her flurried and confused manner he suspected something wrong. After he had breakfasted he went to the bureau and emptied the drawer of all the money. He marked 20 shillings and put them back into the drawer. About 1/2 hour later he went out of the house leaving the bureau open. On his return he found only 16 shillings in the drawer. In the meantime Sarah Clarke had left the house. He went to a drawer in the kitchen from which he had seen her take money. He found one of the marked shillings there. When Clarke returned he asked her to lend him a shilling - she said she did not have one but could lend him half a crown. He asked whose shilling it was in the drawer. She said it was hers and that her mistress had given it to her the previous night. When she gave him the half crown he saw she had some shillings in her hand besides and he insisted on seeing them. They were also marked. He asked Clarke where she had been. She said to Mr. Cook's for some ashes. He then put her into the hand of Mr Bates the superintendent of police. On his return home Mr Bates showed him 1 shilling which he swears is one of those he marked and left in the drawer. James Bates, superintendent of police stationed at Ampthill - from information received he went to the hosue of Miss Buncher and asked if Sarah Clarke had paid her any money that morning. She said Clarke had paid her a shilling but she did not know which it was. He was able to pick the marked shilling out from all the silver she had. Sarah Buncher of Ampthill, dressmaker - that morning Sarah Clarke came to her house and paid her a shilling in part payment of a small debt. When Mr Bates saw her silver he at once identified the shilling he wanted and pointed out to her the private mark. Sarah Clarke - "I am very sorry that I have done it".

item

Clarke, Sarah,
Furze, Robert,
Bates, James,
Buncher, Sarah,
Cook

AMPTHILL, stealing, money, corn factor, dressmaker, police superintendent