Sarah
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Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser Wednesday 22 Mar 1882
Page 6 Column 1
TAUNTON POLICE COURT.
FRIDAY. - Before Mr KINGLAKE.
THEFT BY A WASHERWOMAN. - Jane OATEN, a washerwoman, was charged with stealing a sheet, on Nov. 14th, value 2s 6d, the property of Levi HAWKINS. Louisa HAWKINS, wife of the prosecutor, said the prisoner had worked for her in November or December last. About three weeks ago witness was recovering from an illness, when she missed three sheets and other articles. The prisoner had been in and out of her house during her illness. When she missed the articles she accused the prisoner of taking them, and told her to bring the things back, in which case she would say nothing about it. The prisoner told her she would deliver them back as quickly as she could get the means to have them. She had brought a dirty sheet back. She told prisoner she must have the remainder, and she said she would do what she could on the next day. Some things were afterwards brought by a little girl, but not the particular sheet concerning which the prisoner was now charged, which was found by Emma PARKER a woman who worked for witness in the pawnshop. Witness identified the sheet produced as her property. - P.S. SELF said on Thursday morning he received a message from P.C. HILLIAR, and between ten and eleven o'clock he went with P.C. BAYLE to the prisoner's lodgings in Canon-street. He saw the prisoner there and said to her “We want to look over your place, as Mrs HAWKINS had lost two table cloths, with Mr KENNELLY's name on them.” She said “You are at liberty to do so,” and witness then searched the place. Found no table cloths, but did find a pawn ticket, now produced, in a small tin case on the mantel piece, with a quantity of others. He then left the place, leaving P.C. BAYLE there, and went to Queen-street, and accompanied from there by Emma PARKER, went to Mr GILLETT's pawnshop in East-reach. Received the sheet produced from Mr GILLETT, and afterwards showed it to Mrs HAWKINS. Then went to the prisoner's room again with the woman PARKER. PARKER then said to the prisoner in his presence, “Another sheet has been found, and I can swear it is Mrs HAWKINS. The cotton has been picked out.” The prisoner then said, “I sent one of my own back by mistake.” PARKER said, “You could not have done that, because we knew all those three you sent back.” Witness then told the prisoner she would be charged with stealing the sheet, and would have to accompany him to the police station. He then took her into custody. - Walter GILLETT, pawnbroker, East-reach, deposed that he made out a pawnticket, produced, but he had no recollection to whom he gave it. It was dated November 11. The prisoner was a pledge customer. The sheet was pawned in the name of Ann HUGHES. - Emma PARKER stated that she had been in the habit of washing the sheet. She went with P.S. SELF tot he prisoner's lodging on Thursday, and there saw the sheet, which she identified by marks upon it. She had not seen it from before Christmas. - The prisoner, who had been previously convicted, was committed for trial at the next sessions.
THEFT FROM A PUBLIC-HOUSE. - William GREEN was charged with stealing a plaited straw basket, value 1s 6d, the property of Thirza WOOD. - Thirza WOOD deposed that her husband kept the Three Mariners inn. On Thursday morning, between ten and eleven, the prisoner came to the house. He went into the front room. She drew him some beer. While he was there two other men and a woman came in. After they gone she saw the prisoner pick up the basket and look at it. After he was gone out she missed the basket. Hearing that the prisoner had been seen going down the street with it, she gave information to the police. The basket produced was hers. P.C. GOODMAN, who she told of her loss, soon afterwards returned with the prisoner and the basket. She though the prisoner was a little the worse for liquor, because he was so chatty. She did not hear him go out. He must have stepped out very lightly. - Thomas PETHERICK said he was at the Railway inn on Thursday morning. He saw the prisoner come in. He had a small basket under his arm, and called for a “bucket of beer.” It was a similar basket to the one produced. Witness was in prisoner's company about ten minutes, and left the room first. The prisoner when he came in put the basket down on the settle. - P.C. GOODMAN said a man named BRACHER came to him about half-past eleven on Thursday morning and told him of the theft. He called on Mrs. WOOD and then went in search of the prisoner. At the Railway inn he found the prisoner who had the basket by his side. Asked the prisoner if he had been at the Three Mariners that morning. The prisoner said he had. Witness told him he was suspected of taking a basket from there. The prisoner replied that he knew nothing of it. He told prisoner he would go with him to Mrs WOOD. He took him to the Three Mariners, and Mrs WOOD said “That is the man, and that is my basket.” Witness then took him into custody. The prisoner was committed for trial.
<NOTES: Jane OATEN daughter of William OATEN and Jane HOW, associated with William GRILLS
Levi HAWKINS son of James HAWKINS and Sarah Ann DUNN, married Louisa GOULD
Louisa GOULD daughter of James GOULD and Sarah JENNINGS, married Levi HAWKINS>