The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

400. (L.)   Sarah Jennings , spinster , was indicted for stealing one linen pillowbear, val. 1 s. 6 d. four 36 s. pieces, and 19 guineas, the property of   Mary Showring , widow , in the dwelling-house of the said Mary , July 22 .

  Mary Showring . The prisoner was my servant , I took her out of a work-house, she had been with me upwards of 5 years. I live in  Red Lion-Court, Fleetstreet ; on the twenty first of July I had a bag with a forty pound note, nineteen guineas, and 4 36 s. pieces in it; I saw them in the afternoon, having occasion to take a guinea out to pay a person a crown. Mrs. Edwards came to see me, I asked her to stay and lie with me that night. At going to bed she desired my maid, the prisoner, to call her up at 6 o'clock in the morning, but she did not call her, so we got up and look'd about the house for the prisoner, she was not to be found; I found the key in my book case, I likewise found she had taken away her cloaths.

Q. Had there been any quarrel previous to this?

M. Showring. No, my Lord, none at all. I sent for Mr. Chillingworth to see if he could find her, which he did and brought her to my house the same morning betwixt 9 and 10 o'clock. [ The pillowbear produced in court and deposed to.] She had it under her arm with her cloaths in it, when brought back.

Q. When did you see that pillowbear?

M. Showring. It was in my house the Sunday before. I believe she then put it on her own bed, in the pair of stairs room where she lay.

Mr. Chillingworth. I found the prisoner in White-chapel, and told her she had no good reason for going away, and persuaded her without discovering farther to return; so she took her bundle in this pillowbear and returned with me.

Q. Was she searched?

Chillingworth. She was at the prosecutrix's house, but found no money upon her. She did not go out of my sight from the first time I saw

her. She owned (before she got to Mr. Alderman Chittey) in the coach, that if her mistress would pull down the coach window, she would tell her the truth; I was on the outside the coach; when it was pulled up again I heard her say she let a young fellow,   Peter Harris in, in the morning betwixt 6 and 7, and that he went to the book case and took the gold and put it into his pocket; and read the note and put it into the bag again. She owned the some before the alderman; she was afterwards before my Lord Mayor, there she denied it, and said she had not seen that young man for above a week.

Q. Was there any threatnings made use of in order to her confession ?

Chillingworth. No, none at all, her mistress said she would forgive her if she would tell the truth.

The prosecutrix being asked, confirmed this of her confession, but said she never found any thing dishonest of her before.

Mrs. Edwards confirmed the whole of the prosecutrix's evidence.

Acq .