QSR1857/1/5/4a

Depositions of James Shrosbery, draper, Alfred Mayes, police constable and Benjamin Few, draper, all of Potton. In the case of Mary Kefford, wife of Thomas, accused of stealing clothing.

5 November 1856

From: 1856 To: 1857

James Shrosebery: he was in partnership with John Hipwell Goodgame and they jointly kept the drapers shop at Potton, under the firm name of “Goodgames and Shrosbery”. Having reason to suspect Mary Kefford of having stolen some of the articles from the shop, he went to her house on 23 October in the company of Thomas Strickland. He said he suspected her of the theft and would not be satisfied until he had examined her boxes, particularly one which she had lately had a lock put on. Kefford consented to the search and opened several boxes. They found a number of goods he could identify as having come from his shop. He believed the bulk of the things were his property but Kefford said they were all her own which she had purchased at various times and places. They left the house and the goods therein but told her she must face the consequences. He went to her house again with Alfred Mayes and looked at the goods. Kefford adhered to her former statement. He went to her house again with Benjamin Few, one of his shop men, so Few could identify the goods. He afterwards instructed the police constable to fetch the goods away. There were 20 to 30 dresses, some shawls, some handkerchiefs and a paste board box which bore his handwriting. He had often seen Mary Kefford in the shop but had never sold her any of the expensive articles. Her husband was a labourer and she a dress maker and milliner and she often came to the shop for article used in her business. Alfred Mayes: on 29 October he went to Mrs Kefford house with Mr Shrosbery. After looking at the things Shrosbery went away and left him in charge of her. He took the articles away from the house. He listed the items taken away from the house as: 31 dresses 9 shawls 5 caps 1 jacket 12 child’s frocks 1 child’s shoes 8 coloured handkerchiefs 2 back veils 1 new sheet 4 child’s capes 13 aprons 1 victoune 1 pair of cuffs to match 3 pairs of child’s socks 1 pair of child’s leggings 2 child’s petticoats A table cloth 2 black bonnet 2 parasols 1 umbrella Cotton and laces Shirt buttons 22 balls of white cotton 12 reels of cotton 62 balls of coloured cotton 1 pair of white worsted cuffs Childs tippet A white window blind 8 piece of lace 8 cap crowns Ribbon 2 pieces of silk A piece of plaice cloth 2 ribbons Lace A red ridicule A handkerchief box A piece of lavender ribbon A piece of plaid 2 pairs of gloves 19 white pocket handkerchiefs Red plaid table cloth Sundry pieces of black and brown Glove box and lid A large box and lid Mary Kefford was taken into custody. She said she was innocent and had bought the items from various places. She said Benjamin few had given her the paste board box. Benjamin Few: he used to serve in Mr Shrosbery shop and left about 3 month ago. He examined the articles with Mr Shrosbery and knew them to have been in his shop in the past 2 years. He had not sold any of the articles himself and did not know how they had got out of the shop. Mary Kefford had been in the shop often but he did not give her a paste board box. Statement of the accused: she had never stolen anything.

item

Kefford, Mary,
Shrosbery, James,
Mayes, Alfred,
Few, Benjamin

POTTON, stealing, shawl, dress, draper, dressmaker