QSR1856/3/5/4a

Depositions of Ann Welch, single woman of Woburn. In the case of Samuel Wesley accused of stealing 2 silver tea spoons.

25 April 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

Ann Welch: a servant in the employment of Mrs Marian Sanders at Woburn. On 10 March, between 5 and 6pm, the prisoner came into the kitchen of her mistress’s house and with an issue regarding a ticket. He asked her to go and inform Mrs Sander who carried on the coal business at Woburn. She took the ticket and left the prisoner in the kitchen alone. She was gone about 5 minutes. When she returned the prisoner was in the kitchen and she gave him an answer according to the direction of Mrs Sanders. He took some oil away from the kitchen and then left. There had been 3 silver spoons and one metal one in a basin which she was going to wash before the prisoner came. She had left them in the water to go upstairs. After the prisoner had gone she missed 2 spoons. She had been present the next evening when Mrs Sanders asked the prisoner if anyone had come to the kitchen while he had been there alone. He said nobody had. She had told her mistresses of the missing spoons about 10 minutes after the prisoner had left. At the time of the prisoner was in the employment of her mistress. Her mistress was a widow. She advised the police of the robbery. She was present when her mistress accused the prisoner of taking the spoons. He said nothing. He did not speak of going to the stable or feeding his horses whilst she had been absent from the kitchen. Statement of the accused: he was not guilty of it. On the night in question he had a can of oil for Mr Pearson who would not pay for it. He took the ticket to Mrs Sanders and gave it to her servant. The servant went out of the kitchen and he went out the same time into the same to give his horses some victuals. He went back to the kitchen and had just got to the door when the servant came down. The servant gave him the book and he went about his work. When he came to settled with Mrs Sanders she accused him of the spoons. He said he had seen nothing of them and she asked him if he had seen anyone come in the kitchen. He said he had not and that he had gone to the stable to give his horses some food. He was gone to the stable for 6 or 7 minutes. Many people came to the place for coals.

item

Wesley, Samuel,
Welch, Ann,
Sanders, Marian

WOBURN, stealing, silver