QSR1885/1/5/1

Depositions of Sophia Tompkins, the wife of Joseph Tompkins of Dunstable, a lodging hourse keeper, Alfred Griffin, police constable of Newport Pagnell and William Addington, police sergeant of Dunstable. In the case of Margaret Hart accused of larceny of a bailee.

12 November 1884

From: 1884 To: 1885

Sophia Tompkins: the prisoner had stayed with them for a fortnight as she was destitute. She allowed her to stay as she told her that she had no friends and would do anything to make a living. She endeavoured to find the prisoner a situation and found her a place with Mr Gutteridge of West Street, Dunstable. The prisoner had no clothes so she lent her 2 dresses and a jacket of her own and bought her 2 servants caps and 3 aprons. They agreed that if she did not stay at her situation she would return the clothing to her and if she stayed and received wages, then the prisoner would pay her 11s 6d for them. The prisoner went to her situation o 5 November and she did not see her again. On 8 November she was told the prisoner had absconded from her situation. She advised the police. Alfred Griffin: constable of the Bucks Police stationed at Newport Pagnell. On 8 November he saw the prisoner in the common lodging house at Newport Pagnell. From information received her overtook her near Northampton. She was in the company of another female and was carrying a bundle. The prisoner was asked if her name was Hart but she replied it was Harrison. He searched the bundle and found a bible with Margaret Hart’s name in it. The black dress was in the bundle and she was wearing the other dress and the jacket. He took her into custody and charged her. The prisoner said she knew she had no business taking then but was tired of service and was going on to Manchester. William Addington: On 10 November he received the prisoner from PC Griffin and brought her to Dunstable. The prisoner said she had been lent the items and would have sent the money to Mrs Tompkins when she got to Manchester and had work at the cotton mills. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Hart, Margaret,
Tompkins, Sophia,
Tompkins, Joseph,
Addington, William,
Griffin, Alfred

DUNSTABLE, Newport Pagnell, stealing, clothing