QSR1881/1/5/8c

Jabez William Clarke, draper of Hitchin, Ebenezer Cain, police sergeant of Arlesey and Frederick Smith, police inspector of Biggleswade. In the case of Annie Peach accused of obtaining a jacket and shawl by false pretences.

22 December 1880

From: 1880 To: 1881

Note advised the evidence of Thomas Hawkins (8a) and Emma Knight (8a) should also be referred to in relation to this case. Jabez William Clarke: a draper who was at the Two Brewers beer house in Stotfold on 11 December. The prisoner was in the tap room. After his dinner the landlord drove Peach and Clarke to Arlesey station. Before leaving the beer house, she had told him she was a nurse at the Three Counties Asylum and had 5 nurses under her. She told him she was in a position to do him some good at the asylum. She knew Mr Croft well, having known him in London. On the way to the station they stopped at Wilmot’s beer house and all went into the house. He took in his pack. He asked her if there was anything he could supply her and she said she wanted a jacket. He showed her a jacket and she bought it for 25 shillings. She gave the name of Annie Bennett. He also had a shawl priced at 12 shillings which she bought. She promised to send £1 to the landlady of the Two Brewers as payment on account and he was to call at the asylum and ask the porter for her. They travelled together to Arlesey station and on to Hitchin station were they parted company. He did not see her again. Ebenezer Cain: police sergeant at Arlesey. He knew all the attendants at the asylum and the prisoner was not one of them. Frederick Smith: he charged Peach with the offence. She told him Mr Croft the publican now had the jacket and she had sold the shawl to Mrs Green of Moxton Street, High Barnett for 2 shillings at Hitchin Station. Statement of the accused: they had all been drinking together. She had been an attendant at Colney Hatch and had been up to the Three Counties asylum to put her name down as an attendant. She did not say she was engaged but that she had applied.

item

Peach, Annie,
Clarke, Jabez William,
Cain, Ebenezer,
Smith, Frederick

Hitchin, ARLESEY, BIGGLESWADE, false pretences, draper, Stotfold Two Brewers, Three Counties Asylum