QSR1845/1/5/14

Depositions - Emma Cannon charged with stealing a brooch belonging to Robert Day at Biggleswade

28 November 1844

From: 1844 To: 1845

Mary Day, wife of Robert Day of Baldock, butcher – on Wednesday 30 October she was staying with her sister at Biggleswade and went to drink tea with Mrs Barker. She usually wears a cornelian brooch in her handkerchief. She put it there on that day and saw it there when she arrived at Mrs Barker’s. When she went to bed that evening she discovered she had lost her brooch. The next morning she sent to apprize Mrs Barker. The brooch produced is the one she lost. James Larkins of Biggleswade, victualler – about 3 weeks or a month ago he received information that Mrs Day had lost a brooch at Mrs Barker’s. She was then staying at his house. The next morning at Mrs Day’s request he went to Mr Barker’s to enquire after the brooch. He saw a servant girl cleaning the parlour. He asked her if she had found a brooch and she said she had not and had not cleaned the room. He told about Mrs Day’s loss and begged her to take care of it if she found it. He did not observe the girl’s countenance and cannot swear it was the prisoner. William Breakwell, police constable – having received information that Cannon was suspected of having Mrs Day’s brooch in her possession he went over to Gamlingay where Cannon’s mother lives to make inquiries. When he got there he saw 2 young women in the house. He asked which of them had lived with Mrs Barker. Cannon replied that she had. He told her he had come to enquire about a brooch and a pair of spectacles belonging to Mrs Barker and must search her boxes. In her box he found the brooch and the other articles now produced. She said she had found the brooch in the street at Biggleswade opposite Mrs Barker’s. Elizabeth Barker of Biggleswade, wife of William Henry Barker, chemist – Cannon was in her service for 3 weeks. Hearing that Mrs Day had lost a brooch at her house she asked Cannon several times if she had found it. She cannot positively recollect on what day she mentioned it.

item

Cannon, Emma,
Day, Mary,
Day, Robert,
Larkins, James,
Breakwell, William,
Barker, Elizabeth,
Barker, William Henry

Baldock, BIGGLESWADE, stealing, JEWELLERY, butcher, victualler, domestic servant, police constable, chemist