QSR1853/1/5/1

Susannah Crawley, wife of John, a dealer of second hand clothes of Leighton Buzzard, Charlotte Ayres, wife of John, late of Leighton Buzzard, currently residing in the Bedford Lunatic Asylum and Thomas Worsley, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Mary Ann Corkett, accused of stealing a French merino dress.

21 October 1852

From: 1852 To: 1853

Susannah Crawley: her and her husband, John, kept a second hand clothes shop in Leighton Buzzard. On the evening of 19 October, the prisoner came to the shop and asked for a woman's bed gown. Crawley went to kitchen during the prisoners visit and on her return the prisoner had gone. The prisoner had paid for a bed gown and had been looking at other items in the shop when she had been left alone. Before the prisoner had come into the shop, there had been a purple French merino dress hanging by the door of the shop. The morning after the prisoners visit Crawley missed the dress. The prisoner had been the last visitor to the shop the previous evening, with the exception of some children for wood and coals. Crawley advised PC Worsley of the loss. She did not sell the prisoner the dress or have any conversation with the prisoner about it. Charlotte Ayres: wife of John, who was currently in the Bedford Lunatic Asylum. The prisoner lodged with her in the same room in Leighton. On 19 October the prisoner came home and showed her a bed gown which she had bought from Mrs Crawley. About an hour later the prisoner showed her a purple dress and said she had given Mrs Crawley 3 pence for it about 2 months previous, and now paid the balance, making in total 4 shillings. On 20 October PC Worsley came to her room and she showed him the dress the prisoner had bought home and he took it into his possession. Thomas Worsley: he was informed by Susannah Crawley of her loss on 20 October. He went to the lodgings of the prisoner and recovered the dress. It was hanging up and was inside out. He took the prisoner into custody and told her the charge. The prisoner said she had not stolen the dress but had paid for it.Statement of the accused: she had paid money on account for another dress but Mrs Crawley told her she had sold it and said that she might have another. She took the purple one.

item

Corkett, Mary Ann,
Crawley, Susannah,
Crawley, John,
Ayres, Charlotte,
Worsley, Thomas

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, dress, dealer in second hand clothes, Bedford Lunatic Asylum