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Theft from a Quorn Public House
Loughborough Herald - 21st May 1896.
Petty Sessions: Before Ald. W A Cartwright, R Whiteley, and J Harriman, Esqrs.
Sarah Ann Barrs, widow, Mountsorrel, was charged with stealing a bell, value 2s 6d., the property of Hepzibah Kinch, beerhouse-keeper, Quorn. Prosecutrix stated that the defendant visited her house, the King William the Fourth, on Saturday about eight o'clock. After she had gone a man made a communication to her, and she missed the call bell from the parlour. Witness went outside, and seeing the defendant asked her if she had seen the bell. She replied she had not, and would be searched. Witness went into the house, and defendant followed a few minutes later with her pockets turned inside out, remarking that she would see she had not got it.
John Hubbard, labourer, Barrow, spoke to seeing defendant take the bell from the window. She put it under her apron at first and then transferred it to her pocket. George Buckley, employed at the quarries, stated that he heard Mrs Kinch accuse the defendant of stealing a bell, which she denied. Defendant then asked whether his wife was at home, and as they were proceeding to his house the defendant threw a bell into the Village Hall yard.
PC Kirby said he saw defendant look over the Village Hall wall, and having his suspicions aroused, made a search, finding the bell amongst the bushes. She then went to the King William, witness following, and charging her with stealing the bell, which she denied, calling him a liar.
Defendant, who elected to be dealt with by the Court, pleaded not guilty, and called James Baker, labourer, of Cross Street, Loughborough, with whom she entered the public house. He said he never saw a bell in the house, and the defendant did not shift from his side during the whole time they were in the house. The witness Hubbard, re-called said Baker sat by the side of the defendant when she took the bell.
The Bench convicted, and imposed a fine of 15s or fourteen days. Defendant: 'If I had a fortune I would make them sit up.'
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Submitted on: |
2010-10-11 |
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Submitted by: |
Kathryn Paterson |
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Artefact ID: |
922 |
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Artefact URL: |
www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=922 |
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Print: |
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