QSR1876/4/5/5/b

Depositions and examination - Betsy Jane Hammett, charged with stealing one night dress value 2s 6d from Mary Dunham at Luton on 29 July 1876

14 August 1876

From: 1876 To: 1876

Mary Dunham of Luton, shopkeeper – she is a widow and keeps a secondhand clothes shop at 198 Chapel Street Luton. On 29 July about 10pm Hammett came into her shop to look at the skirt of a dress. Hammett bought a cotton skirt for 1s 6d and took it away. Hammett asked to look at a shirt for her husband. She could not find her one to suit and Hammett went away promising to call again. From information received she went to Hammett’s house with the police constable. She saw a night dress there belonging to her. Hammett stated that if she had the dress it hung in the skirt she bought. She is sure it was not in the skirt. She had seen Hammett in her shop several times before. The night dress produced is the one she lost. Mary Raggett of Luton – on 29 July 1876 she was lodging with Mary Dunham. About 10pm she was sitting in the kitchen. She could see through a window into the shop. She saw Mary Dunham serve Hammett with a skirt. She saw Hammett take up 3 or 4 different articles and hide them under her dress under her arm. Hammett took a nightdress and folded it in the skirt she bought. She went out and caught Hammett at the door. She then met a policeman, gave him information, and he took Hammett into custody. William Champkins of Luton, police constable – he went in search of Hammett and found her at home in Windsor Street. He took Mary Dunham with him. He asked for the skirt she bought. Hammett brought it out from under the table. He saw the night dress in the place from where she took the skirt. Mrs Dunham said it was hers. He charged Hammett with stealing the night dress. She said she did not steal it, that it must have come in the skirt, and that she was willing to pay for it. He saw Mrs Raggett but before she could tell him about the theft Hammett went away. Betsy Jane Hammett – she is not guilty.

item

Hammett, Betsy Jane,
Dunham, Mary,
Raggett, Mary,
Champkins, William

LUTON, Luton Chapel Street, stealing, clothing, police constable, dealer in second hand clothes