QSR1867/4/5/6

Depositions of Mary Gudgin, widow and innkeeper of the Clophill. Elizabeth Mardlin and Mary Ann Mardlin, singlewomen of Clophill. Henry Bailey, police constable stationed at Clophill. In the case of Sophia Manton accused of stealing 38 shillings, a reticule, a table spoon, a tea spoon, 2 pillow cases, 2 cotton stockings and other articles.

29 August 1867

From: 1867 To: 1867

Mary Gudgin: she was a widow and keeper of the Compasses Inn at Clophill. The prisoner, Sophia Manton had been in her service until 8 weeks previous. Manton was in her service as a charwoman on the evening of Sunday 25 August. The previous day she had placed £5 in silver in a drawer in the bedroom. She went to the drawer on 26 August and found the lock had been tampered with. She counted the silver and missed 30 shillings. There was only £3 2s 0d. Whilst the prisoner had been in the house on the Sunday she had left the house for a few minutes. She informed PC Bailey of her loss. On the Monday evening the PC brought the prisoner to her door in a cart. The prisoner said that she judged her wrong and she had none of the money. Later that evening she went to the prisoner’s lodgings at Clophill and saw 3 boxes. She saw PC Bailey take 2 pillow cases out of one of the boxes. One was marked ‘M.G.’ and both were her property. The 2 towels produced were also taken from the box and were marked with her name. The 2 cotton stockings were marked with her initials. The cotton apron was hers and she had a dress like it. The reticule was hers and she found a button inside which she knew the reticule missed. The memorandum book, knife, fork, table spoon, tea spoon and comb were hers. She had missed the reticule for some time and had told the prisoner she had missed some towels. The prisoner had told her she would fid them in the wash. The gloves produced were also hers. She valued all the articles together at 7s 6d. Whilst the boxes were being searched the prisoner said she hoped she would be forgiven for the sake of her child and she would do any work if she was forgiven. The purse produced was her daughter’s. Her daughter lived with her who was a minor. Elizabeth Mardlin: she was a single woman and lived at Clophill. She had gone with her sister and the prisoner to Luton by the carrier the previous Monday. They had some refreshment and the prisoner paid for the driver. She also paid her 3s 6d which she owed her. They had tea together and she had paid for that. They walked together to the Crown and Anchor. PC Bailey came up and took the prisoner away. The prisoner put something into her hand and she afterwards found it to be a purse. There was some silver in it. She gave the money and purse up to PC Bailey. Mary Ann Mardlin: sister of the last witness. She had gone with her sister and the prisoner to Clophill on the previous Monday. They dined together. She had the prisoner went shopping and the prisoner bought 3 pairs of boots which she gave 8s6 6d for. The prisoner bought other items including a bow, 2 ties and a pair of earrings. The prisoner lent her money to but earrings. The prisoner paid for the dinner and a glass of brandy and water. She saw her sister take the purse produced out of her pocket in the van. She saw some silver in it. She saw the prisoner buy a chair and give a shilling for it. The prisoner had a child. The 2 pairs of boots that the prisoner brought went back in the van with the, and they were left at their house until PC Bailey took them away. PC Henry Bailey: on Monday 26 August he went to Luton and met the prisoner in the company of the 2 Mardlins. He charged the prisoner with stealing money and other articles from Mrs Gudgin. The prisoner had she had not stolen anything and had only sixpence and some half pennies with her on going to Luton. He took the prisoner to the police station at Luton where she was searched by the constable’s wife from whom he received a number of articles tied in a handkerchief. He asked the prisoner that as she had no money how she accounted for the neck ties and she said she had borrowed a shilling from Betsey Mardlin and the other money had been given her by a young man who lodged with her. She said the young man had given her a shilling to buy a neck tie. He took the prisoner to the Crown & Anchor and the carrier gave him a chair which he said belonged to the prisoner. He conveyed the prisoner to Clophill, the same evening, and went to her lodgings there. The prisoner pointed to 3 boxes and said they were hers. He searched the boxes in the presence of the prisoner and Mrs Gudgin. He found the articles produced in the boxes, except for the gloves. Mrs Gudgin identified the goods. The prisoner said to Mrs Gudgin that she hoped she would forgive her and that she had taken all the things except the reticule which she had bought at Manchester. He took the prisoner to the Compasses at Clophill and from there to the house of the 2 Mardlins. He saw Elizabeth Mardlin and received from her a purse with 5s 9d in it. She had since received from Elizabeth Mardlin 3s 6d and earrings from Mary Ann Mardlin and well as the boots. He the returned to the Compasses and the prisoner said she had taken a pound out of the drawer when she had gone upstairs to wash her hands on Sunday evening. He took the prisoner to Ampthill and on the road she said to him that she did not know how much money she had out of the drawer as she had taken a grab out of the saucer. From what the prisoner had at Luton and what was in the purse he accounted for £1 6s 4d. Statement of the accused: she had not taken that sum of money. She had taken money out of the drawer and had not known what was there until the next morning. There was every farthing she had and she had borrowed a shilling for the chair and received 6 pence each from her brother’s daughters. She gave 4d ¾ for the little bow. She had a sixpence and a few half pence when she went away that morning.

item

Manton, Sophia,
Gudgin, Mary,
Mardlin, Elizabeth,
Mardlin, Mary Ann,
Bailey, Henry

CLOPHILL, LUTON, Clophill Compasses, Luton Crown & Anchor, innkeeper, widow, stealing, money, household goods