Accused of stealing jewellery from the house of a Rushden doctor, a mother and daughter who appeared at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court to-day were committed for trial at Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions.

Ethel May Patricia Groome, (51), 23, Moor Road, Rushden, and Helen Streeton (21), sprayer, 10a, Hester Street, Northampton, were charged on remand with breaking and entering the house of Bernard William Paine, and stealing three diamond rings, a gold watch, 15 pieces of silver-plated cutlery and six metal ash trays, worth £23 5s., the property of Muriel Olive Paine, at Rushden, between April 23rd and April 27th.

Legal aid was granted and Capt. J. S. Parker appeared for both and reserved the defence.

Dr. Paine said he went away on April 23rd and left the key of his house in the care of the gardener. At the time Streeton was employed by him as housemaid and was given leave for the period he was away. She was not in possession of the key but had authority to go into the house on the day before his return.

Note Left

He returned on April 27th. Streeton was not present, but had left a note. In consequence of what he was told he examined the house but found nothing wrong.

On May 4th his wife called him to examine her jewel case, kept in a cupboard under the dressing table, and he discovered that certain pieces were missing.

Other articles were also missing. On May 10th he was shown by the police the missing articles.

Answering Capt. J. S. Parker, witness said that Streeton had permission to enter the house, in the presence of the gardener, to take the dog for a walk.

Harold Reginald Hall, gardener, 9, Park Road, Rushden, said that after the doctor and his wife left the house he locked up and retained the key.

On the following Monday, Streeton went to the house with another woman. Streeton said she had left some personal belongings behind and also offered to take the dog for a walk.

He asked if she had a key. She said "No", and, thinking it would be all right, he gave her the key. Both women went in the house and the key was not returned to him on that day.

The following day Streeton again went to the house and was accompanied by the same woman. She said she had a lot of work to do and her mother was going to help. He did not see them again.

The next day (April 27th), he found, in the house, the key he had given to Streeton. He also saw a note in the kitchen.

Marion Ainge, jeweller's assistant, 6, Denmark Road, Rushden, said she was employed by Messrs. Knight and Son, jewellers. On April 27th two women went into the shop. She did not know them but identified the accused. The younger asked if they bought rings. She told her they bought old gold, and the woman showed her three rings. She offered £7 10s. and they accepted.

Conversation followed between the two women and the elder woman produced fifteen pieces of cutlery and six metal ashtrays. Witness told them they did not really want any plated goods but offered £1, which was accepted. They then left the shop.

Gold Watch

Between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. the same day, the elder woman returned and asked if they would buy a gold watch. She said it was her husband's. He did not want to part with it but was ill, and the money was needed for a holiday. She offered the woman £3, which was accepted.

P.S. Davies said that as the result of inquiries he recovered some of the jewellery from Messrs. Knight's shop and received a description of the two women who sold it. On the same day he saw Mrs. Groome and alleged that she told him: "Nellie took some of Mrs. Paine's jewellery and we sold it at Knight's." He stopped her, cautioned her, and took her into custody.

That night he saw Streeton at Northampton Borough Police Station. He told her that he was taking her into custody for being concerned with her mother in stealing a quantity of jewellery. After caution she replied: "It was mother."

At Wellingborough Police Station they made alleged statements. Groome, in her statement, said her daughter was "hard up" and wanted to see her husband. They went to the house and took some jewellery.

Asked if they wished to make a statement, Capt. Parker replied that neither had anything to say at that stage.

Groome was granted bail in her own surety of £25, and Streeton in her own surety of £25, subject to an additional surety of £25 being found.