QSR1863/4/5/5b

Depositions of Sarah Bryant, wife of David, of Stamford. Reuben Pepper, police constable of Shefford. Frederick Hewes, carpenter of Clifton. In the case of Eliza Burgess, wife of William, accused of stealing a purse from the person of Sarah Bryant containing 3 shillings.

19 August 1863

From: 1863 To: 1863

Sarah Bryant: she was at Shefford market on the 14 August. She was among a crowd looking at a man selling jewellery. She put her hand into her pocket for her handkerchief and found a woman’s hand in her pocket. The woman called herself Eliza Burgess. She pulled out the hand and said “woman you have got you hand in my pocket”. The prisoner had a shilling in her hand and she accused her of having her shilling. The prisoner said it was her own and she had not had her hand in Bryant’s pocket. Bryant had 11 shillings when she went out. She had spent 3s 3d and ought to have 7s 9d left but she only had 4s 6d. She told PC Pepper of her loss. PC Reuben Pepper: he was sent to the Crown public house and found 2 women there. Sarah Bryant charged Eliza Burgess of having picked her pocket at the market. Bryant said she missed 3 shillings. The prisoner had a purse in her hand. There was 15s and 6d in it. The prisoner said it was her own money but she would rather pay it than have bother about it. Frederick Hewes: he was talking to Mrs Bryant in Shefford market and saw the prisoner come very close to her side and push up against her. They stood there a minute or two and Mrs Bryant said to the woman that she had her hand in her pocket. The prisoner drew her hand sharply back and she had some silver money in her hand. It was a shilling which she said she had taken out of her pocket to pay for a brooch and that it was all she had. The prisoner had a child in one arm. A man was selling brooches at a shilling each. Statement of the accused: she was not guilty.

item

Burgess, Eliza,
Burgess, William,
Bryant, Sarah,
Pepper, Reuben,
Hewes, Frederick

Stamford, SHEFFORD, CLIFTON, pickpocket, carpenter