At the Rushden Police-station yesterday, before Mr. Fred Knight, J.P., Nellie Coleman, milliner, in the employ of Mr. John Henry York, draper, of the Louvre, High-street, Rushden, was charged with stealing, between January 1st and June 15th, two night dresses, one chemise, one bodice, one pair of knickers, one fur, and one lace jabot, of the total value of £1/12/2, the property of her employer.
Supt. Onan said that prisoner was arrested on Wednesday, charged with this offence, and he asked for a remand to the Wellingborough Petty Sessions on Friday.
Mr. Knight (to prisoner): Have you anything to say why you should not be remanded?
Prisoner: Nothing at all.
On being remanded, prisoner asked for bail to be allowed.
Mr. Knight granted bail, namely, prisoner and her mother (Mrs. Charlotte Coleman, a widow, of 24, Wood-street, Northampton) in £5 each.
The case came before the Wellingborough Bench this afternoon.
Mr. York, the first witness, said that the defendant had been in his employ for the past 15 months. He had been missing goods for the last six months.
On Tuesday night last, he added, when the defendant was out, they searched her room, and found between the mattresses a night-dress and chemise (produced). He communicated with the police, and the next morning the Inspector watched the premises and saw the carrier call for a parcel, which she gave to him.
The Inspector took the parcel away from the carrier and took it into the shop and asked defendant to open it, which she did, and they found therein the night-dress and chemise. When she was accused, defendant said she bought the things in Abington-street, Northampton, six months before she came to Rushden.
The accused was taken to the police station, whereupon she admitted that the goods were the property of her employer. Witness then went to Northampton to the house of the defendant’s mother, who handed to him a night-dress, a pair of knickers, a camisole, a lace jabot, and a fur. The Inspector asked defendant if she wished to give an account of the articles, and she replied that she had no knowledge of sending anything but the night-dress.
Later on, defendant admitted that she sent the fur but that she had bought it from a second-hand clothes shop in High-street South, Rushden.
The Inspector, who gave evidence corroborating Mr. York’s statement, said that on his making inquiries in High-street South, Rushden, as to defendant’s alleged purchase of the fur there, found that her statement was not true. Later on, defendant admitted to him that the goods were stolen from Mr. York’s. She said, “I’m sorry to have told such lies, but did it to screen myself. I admit stealing the things.” When charged with the offence, she said “I can’t think what made me do it.”
Prosecutor said he did not wish to press the case, and added that he should pay defendant her wages up to the time she was arrested, deducting the value of the goods which she had worn, and which were now of no use to him.
The Bench said that Mr. York had acted in a very generous manner to the defendant.
Prisoner was bound over in her own recognisance with her mother as surety for 12 months and placed under the supervision of the probation officer.
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