QSR1854/2/5/6-7

Depositions of Mary Brinklow, wife of William of Billington, Eliza Keppell, widow of Billington, Jesse Walker, police constable of Billington and Anthony Sibley, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Mary Keppell & Elizabeth Proctor accused of stealing and receiving a flat iron.

4 April 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Mary Brinklow: On 1 April between 2pm and 3pm she had a heating iron, the value of 9d in her house. She missed the iron about 6pm. The prisoner Mary Keppell had been to her house about 3pm. Eliza Keppell: a widow living at Billington and mother of Mary Keppell. On Saturday 1 April, Mary had been at work at her aunt, Elizabeth Proctor’s, house. Mary returned about 7pm and brought with her a penny which she said her aunt had given her. On Sunday, in consequence of what her daughter had told her, she went to Proctor’s for the iron. She told Proctor she was resolved and would have it. Proctor went to the barn and brought out the iron. She saw proctor take it out of the thatch of the barn where it appeared to have been hidden. PC Jesse Walker: he received information of the iron being stolen and went to the Keppell’s house. Mrs Keppell went and returned with the iron. He took Mary Keppell into custody and whilst conveying her to Leighton she said that her aunt had sent her to Mrs Brinklow’s to sell plait. When she returned she had not sold the plait because Mrs Brinklow had not been home. Proctor, Keppell’s aunt, asked Keppell what she had seen in the house and Keppell said she had seen a flat iron. Her aunt told her to go back and try to sell her plait and to bring the iron to her as she did not have one. Keppell did so and gave the iron to her aunt. Her aunt took the iron from her and gave her a penny. PC Anthony Sibley: he took the prisoner Proctor into custody and advised her of the charge. Proctor said she had not seen the iron and knew nothing of it. Statement of the accused: Mary Keppell – her aunt asked her what she had seen about the house and she told her aunt that several things stood about the house, among them a flat iron. Her aunt told her to bring the iron away for she did not have one. She took the iron and gave it to her aunt, who then gave her a penny. Elizabeth Proctor – she had not stolen the iron or anything else.

item

Proctor, Elizabeth,
Keppell, Mary,
Brinklow, Mary,
Brinklow, William,
Keppell, Eliza,
Walker, Jesse,
Sibley, Anthony

BILLINGTON, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, receiving stolen goods, straw plaiting