• Reference
    QSR1899/4/5/12
  • Title
    Depositions of Emily Mary Hurst, wife of Revd Edward Hamilton Hurst of Felmersham; George St. Leger Hopkinson of Hong Kong Bank Lombard Street London and Emma Mole, housemaid of Felmersham. In the case against Charlotte Wimpress accused of stealing three shillings in money from Emily Mary Hurst.
  • Date free text
    11 August 1899
  • Production date
    From: 1899 To: 1899
  • Scope and Content
    Emily Mary Hurst said: I am the wife of the Revd Edward Hamilton Hurst of Felmersham in the County of Bedford Clerk in Holy Orders. the Defendant in Oct 1898 entered my employ as Cook. shortly before Xmas I was aware I have been missing money amounting to about £10. About the end of Jan or beginning of Feb I told the Defendant money had been taken from my drawer – she offered to go and fetch her money and show me what she had. On Sunday last Aug 6 my two sons were at home. In consequence of a communication received from my older son George I caused some coins amounting to 10 shillings and sixpence to be marked and my son George placed them in a pair of his trousers pockets – amongst these coins were the half crown and sixpenny piece now produced. The letter H was scratched on each side of the coin. This was on Sunday night. On Monday morning a little before 9 I examined the coins in the trouser pocket and found two coins were missing – one half crown and one sixpence. Some time late in the morning I asked the Defendant to give me change for half a sovereign which she did and amongst the change were the two marked coins. I did not speak to Defendant that day but on Tuesday Defendant was called into my husbands room. He said to her “Charlotte we have found out the thief and that money has been taken from Master George’s pocket” She said “I know nothing about it” My Husband then said that as other people had been accused she had better make a clean breast of the matter. But she denied it again – I then told her she was in a hopeless Trap as we had marked the money and she had given me some of the money with the change. She then said “I will own up to the three shillings I picked it off the mat “ She afterwards said “I have about £3 or £3 & 10 shillings of my last wages and I will give you the money if you will hush the matter up” The two coins are my property.” George St Leger Hopkinson said I am the eldest son of the last witness and live in London. On Sunday 6th Aug I was at Felmersham and in my Bed Room about 9.30am Defendant came and knocked at the door but when she saw me she said she was looking for Emma the other servant. On the same night I marked some coins – the half crown and sixpence now produced are two of these. I placed all the coins in the pocket of a pair of trousers and placed in my room. Emma Mole said: I am a Housemaid in the employ of Mrs Hurst. On Monday morning last about 7.45 I took a pair of trousers from Mr George’s bedroom to the kitchen to clean and put them on the dresser and left them there – The Defendant said “There has been something said about money being taken before and she then asked me if there was anything in the pockets if the trousers. I said I did not know. I then shook the trousers and said I thought I heard some. she then said “If I were you I should take them upstairs for if any money went I should be blamed. I then took them to Master George’s room and left them there. the trousers were not brushed that morning on the mat – No money fell out of the pocket when I had them – I left the trousers in the kitchen for a few minutes while I went to the hall and the Defd came to me then to speak about them. Statement of accused: I plead guilty to taking three shillings
  • Exent
    5 pages
  • Level of description
    item