QSR1869/4/5/9-10

Depositions of Louisa Heighington, singlewoman of Woburn. William Heighington, boot and shoe maker of Woburn. William Whinnett, police constable stationed at Woburn. Elizabeth Byway, wife of William, a cooper at Woburn. In the case of Hannah Coburn and Charlotte Coburn accused of stealing 2 pairs of womens boot, 2 pairs of childrens boots and a pair of boys leather garters.

3 September 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

Louisa Heighington: she was a single woman living with her brother William, a boot and shoe maker at Woburn. She knew the child Hannah Coburn. On 27 August she missed a pair of child’s boots from the shop. She had seen them on the edge of the counter having dusted the counter and they had not been sold to anyone. No one had been in the shop. She informed her brother. The next day, 28 August, she missed another 2 pairs of boots. One pair were child’s boots and the other women’s boots. She believed they had been safe when the shop was closed the preceding evening. She informed her brother of the loss. He had been in the shop when she missed them. About 3.30pm the younger prisoner came into the shop to inquire what her sister owed for a pair of boots. While the girl was speaking she missed another pair of women’s boots. She had placed the boots in the same spot from where the other boots had been taken. She suspected the prisoner and took hold of her pinafore. The girl had a pair of women’s boots in it and a boy’s leather garter which had been taken from the side of the shop where others were hanging. She knew the boots and garters to be her brother’s property. When she took the things from the young prisoner she began to scream and kick. She took the girl to her brother and went to the girl's mother. All the boots produced were her brother’s property and were those she missed and the garters too. William Heighington: on 27 August his sister asked if he had removed any boots from the shop. He had not. She said she had missed some children’s boots off the counter and no one had been in the shop. The next morning his sister informed him she missed another pair of boot. In the afternoon his sister called him into the shop. She had hold of the young prisoner by the arm and said she had the thief. He saw a pair of boots and garters on the counter which his sister said she had taken from the girl’s pinafore. The child screamed and kicked and made a great deal of noise. He asked the child her name but she refused to tell him. He threatened the child with the police and she said her name was Coburn. There were several Coburn’s in Woburn but the prisoner refused to say to which she belonged. The girl afterwards said she was James Coburn’s daughter. He accused her of taking 3 pairs of boots and she replied she had not been in the shop before and had not seen the boots. He left the prisoner in the charge of his sister and went to the prisoner, Charlotte Coburn’s house. He told her that her daughter was in custody for stealing boots. Charlotte Coburn said “Its is no use telling any lie about it Mr Heighington I have got the boots and shoes my daughter said she picked them up in the street”. He asked had it not occurred to her to make any enquiries and she said she had not thought it necessary as she quite believed the child. Asked when the child had brought the boots, Charlotte replied that morning but later said it had been the day before. She delivered to him a pair of women’s boots and 2 pairs of children’s boots. The boots were in a box under the table and covered over. There was no paper on the boots. He gave the boots and leggings to PC Whinnett. The prisoner, Charlotte Coburn, said that the boots were brought to her at different times. PC William Whinnett: on 2 September he received 2 pairs of women’s boots, 2 pairs of child’s boots and a pair of garters from the prosecutor. He then had the 2 prisoners in custody. He charged Hannah Coburn with stealing the boots and garters and she began to cry. He charged her mother with receiving the boots knowing them to be stolen. Charlotte said that she was quite innocent and her daughter had told her she had found them and she had believed her. Statement of the accused: Hannah Coburn – nothing to say. Charlotte Coburn – there were 3 pairs of boots brought home by her daughter. Her daughter said to her that she had found them. She had asked if she was sure and her daughter replied she had found them. She put them in a box and had said she would perhaps inquire for them. Before she put them in the box she showed the child’s boots to her neighbour. On Saturday afternoon Hannah said she had to go down town on an errand and whilst she was gone Mr Heighington came and said he wanted to speak to her and that he daughter was charged with stealing some boots and garters. She told Mr Heighington her daughter had brought them home yesterday saying she had found them. She said that if they were his he should have them. Heighington said he only wanted his property and would not think of a child suffering for them. She went with him to the shop and her daughter was there crying. She was grieved to the heart. She had not known that her daughter had not found them. Elizabeth Byway [on behalf of the defence] she lived next door to the prisoner, Charlotte Coburn. On Friday, about noon, Coburn came to her door showed her 2 pairs of shoes which she said her Hannah had found. She saw they were nice boot and she went away. They were both children’s boots. One was black and the other red. Coburn showed her no others and had no other boots with her.

item

Coburn, Hannah,
Coburn, Charlotte,
Heighington, Louisa,
Heighington, Charlotte,
Whinnett, William,
Byway, William,
Byway, Elizabeth

WOBURN, shoemaker, bootmaker, stealing, boots, receiving stolen goods