QSR1865/3/5/3

Depositions of James Carruthers, Superintendent of the district of Bletsoe and residing at Sharnbrook. Alfred White, farmer late of Sharnbrook and now of Felmersham. Elizabeth Ann White, wife of Alfred. Elizabeth Ann White the younger, daughter of Alfred White. In the case of Emma Huckle accused of stealing a tin box, a quantity of eggs, a pair of ladies boots, a piece of diaper, 2 diaper towels, a muslin dress skirt, a linen sheet, 2 blankets and a feather bolster.

11 April 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Superintendent James Carruthers: he apprehended Emma Huckle of Felmersham, a domestic servant in the service of Mr Alfred White, on the charge of stealing a tin box containing eggs. He apprehended her at Felmersham on 7 April. In the course of the evening of the same day he searched the boxes of the prisoner in her presence and in the presence of the prosecutor. He also received the keys to 2 other boxes which he opened. He took the contents into his possession and found all the missed items except the eggs and the piece of diaper cloth. The search took place at Sharnbrook in the house which the prosecutor was leaving. Alfred White: the prisoner was in his service for 5 years or more. The previous Wednesday he found the eggs secreted in a tin box under a chest of drawers in the prisoner’s bedroom. On the Friday morning he asked the prisoner what had become of the eggs and she replied she had put them in the hamper in which the eggs were usually kept. He told her they were not in the hamper. She said she would go and fetch them if she was allowed to go alone. He did not allow her but sent for Mr Carruthers. He believed the eggs in the tin box to be his but he could not identify any of them. He knew the sheet produced it was formerly the property of Mr Gibbard and bore his name on it. Elizabeth Ann White: wife of Alfred. She identified the piece of diaper produced by Mr Carruthers. She also identified the napkins, diaper, 2 blankets, books, the muslin skirt and bolster. She had not given the prisoner any of these. The bolster was worth 5 shillings. Elizabeth Ann White: she resided with her mother and father. The pair of boots produced were hers and had her name in them. She had not given the boots to the prisoner. She had twice in the presence of her ‘mama’ asked the prisoner were her boots were and the prisoner had said she did not know. She never gave any of the articles produced by Carruthers to the prisoner. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Carruthers, James,
White, Alfred,
White, Elizabeth Ann

BLETSOE, SHARNBROOK, FELMERSHAM, stealing, eggs, linen, boots, household goods, domestic servant