QSR1865/1/5/14

Depositions of Sophia Brunt, wife of John, labourer of Biggleswade. John Worsley, grocer of Hitchin and Anna his wife. Reuben Pepper, sergeant of police of Shefford. In the case of Sarah Timson, wife of William, accused of stealing 45 score yards of straw plait.

31 December 1864

From: 1864 To: 1865

Sophia Brunt: she lived in Biggleswade and was a dealer in straw plait. On Friday 30 December she was at Shefford Market and went into the Three Horse Shoes public house. She had with her a bundle of straw plait of forty score and 5 score more tied up in a bunch by itself. She was in the habit of leaving plait at the house and she left it the charge of the landlady. She went away and returned about 10 minutes later for the plait and found it gone. She told several people that she had lost it and after a short time the prisoner was brought to the Three Horse Shoes and she had the whole of the plait in her possession. She identified the plait as that she had missed. She valued the plait at 25 shillings. Anna Worsley: she was a dealer in straw plait and on 30 December she was at Shefford Market. She was in the Three Horse Shoes public house and the prisoner was in the same room as her. She saw the prisoner take up a large parcel, put it under her shawl and went out with it. A short time after Mrs Brunt came in and asked where he plait and bag were. She said that the prisoner had it under her shawl. She was present when Mrs Brunt identified the plait. John Worsley: he was the husband of Anna Worsley and was in the Three Horseshoes at Shefford. He saw the prisoner leave the room with a bundle. He heard Mrs Brunt had lost her plait. He told her that a woman had left with it. He went in search of the prisoner and overtook her going towards Clifton. The prisoner had got about 100 yards away. He told her she must go back to the Three Horse Shoes. He was present when Mrs Brunt identified the bundle of plait. The prisoner said she was sorry she had taken it and that she hoped Mrs Brunt would forgive her. PC Reuben Pepper: on Friday 30 December he saw a crowd round the Three Horse Shoes at Shefford. He went in and enquired what the matter was. He saw the prisoner there and Mrs Brunt gave her into his custody. On telling her the charge the prisoner made no reply but asked Mrs Brunt to forgive her. Statement of the accused: she made a mistake and should not have taken the bundle if she had known it was Mrs Brunts.

item

Timson, Sarah,
Timson, William,
Brunt, Sophia,
Brunt, John,
Worsley, John,
Worsley, Anna,
Pepper, Reuben

BIGGLESWADE, SHEFFORD, Hitchin, stealing, Straw Plait, grocer, Shefford Three Horse Shoes