Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1853/3/5/12/a
  • Title
    Depositions of Thomas Stratton, labourer of Eaton Socon, Mary Stratton, wife of Thomas, labourer of Eaton Socon, Mary Thornton, spinster of Eaton Socon, Mary Gibson, wife of John Gibson, a beerhouse keeper of St Neots and Charles Dale, police constable of Eaton Socon. In the case of Sophie Hull accused of stealing a parasol.
  • Date free text
    23 May 1853
  • Production date
    From: 1853 To: 1853
  • Scope and Content
    Thomas Stratton: resided at Wyboston. He missed the parasol on 19 May, he had seen it safe in a drawer the previous day. He did not see it again until shown it by the constable. Mary Stratton: she found the parasol had gone on the morning of Thursday 19 May. She told Constable Dale of the loss and that she suspected Sophia Hull of taking it. She had not made any agreement with Sophia Hull to exchange the parasol for anything. Mary Thornton: a single woman who resided next door but one to the prosecutor. On 19 May she was left by the prosecutor in charge of the house. The prisoner came to the house on the morning of Thursday 19 May and stayed for about an hour and a half. During her stay Thornton was absent for various times. She did not observe that the prisoner had a parasol with her when she left. Mary Gibson: lived at St Neots where she kept a public house. On the night of 19 May the prisoner came to the house . Her little girl said to the prisoner "you look very smart with a parasol Sophy". She replied "yes I gave two shillings for it to Mrs Stratton". On the Saturday the prisoner came to the house and took half a pint of beer, giving Gibson the parasol in pledge of for it, saying she'd come and pay for it on Monday. She asked if it was her own and the prisoner replied that it was Betsy Stratton's that had died, and that she had given Mrs Stratton a brown Holland pinafore for the child and a knot of red braid in return for it. The prisoner then went away and left the parasol with Mrs Gibson. Charles Dale: took the prisoner into custody and advised her of the charge. The prisoner said to her mother in his hearing "I left it at Mrs Gibson’s at the Falcon at St.Neots except the hook which I have got in my pocket". He went to Mrs Gibson's house and took the parasol.
  • Level of description
    item
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