QSR1862/3/5/10

Depositions of Thomas Gibbs, police constable stationed at Hockcliffe. Nathaniel Gurney, farmer of Tebworth. John Hardy, police constable no.58 in the Lindsey Division of the Lincolnshire Constabulary. In the case of Rebecca Hurst accused of stealing a silver table spoon.

19 June 1862

From: 1862 To: 1862

PC Thomas Gibbs: on 1 May he went to the house of the Reverend Mr Hamilton at Tebworth. Mr Hamilton, in the prisoner’s presence said that he had occasion to search the prisoner’s box and had found some property belonging to himself. Hamilton said he did not want to prosecute her. Hamilton showed him 2 silver table spoons and said he had found and which eh did not think belonged to her. The prisoner said that the spoons were hers and that her grandmother had given them to her. He returned the spoons to her and she left Mr Hamilton’s service the next morning. Nathaniel Gurney: his house was 60 or 70 yards from that of the Reverend Mr Hamiltons. 6 or 8 months ago he missed 2 silver table spoons from his house. They were the spoon produced by PC Hardy and valued at 15 shillings. He missed the spoons whilst the prisoner was in Mr Hamilton’s service. PC John Hardy: in consequence of instructions he received from Superintendent Young he made enquiries at Tealby where the prisoner’s family resided. He found the prisoner had not received any silver spoons from her grandmother. On 13 June he went to the prisoner at Normanby le Wold in Lincolnshire. Among other things he asked her what she had done with the spoons her grandmother had given her. Firstly the prisoner said she knew nothing about them and then said she no longer had them and had thrown them away for a pod at Tealby. He took the prisoner with him and she showed him the pond and said they would be of no use now as she had bent them up. She said she had taken them from Mr Gurney’s kitchen. He asked if anyone had seen the spoons at Tebworth and she said the policeman had seen them. On 14 June he had the pond emptied and found the spoon marked M.I. buried in the mud. On 16 June the spoon marked G.M.A.F was given to him by Elijah Jones, a police constable who he had seen on the way to the search. Statement of the accused: she was very sorry but she had taken them.

item

Gibbs, Thomas,
Gurney, Nathaniel,
Hardy, John,
Hurst, Rebecca,
Jones, Elijah,
Hamilton

Hockcliffe, Tebworth, Normanby, Lincolnshire, stealing, farmer, servant