Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 26 March 2023), March 1845, trial of ELIZABETH DONOVAN (t18450303-793).

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ELIZABETH DONOVAN, Theft > pocketpicking, 3rd March 1845.

793. ELIZABETH DONOVAN was indicted for stealing 1 cloak, value 4s.; and 1 handkerchief, 1s.; the goods of Frederick Watts, from the person of Frances Watts.

MARY ANN WATTS . I am the wife of Frederick Watts—we live in Southwark. On the 27th of Feb. I sent my daughter Frances, who is five years old, to school, which is less than one hundred yards off—she went by herself at half-past two o'clock, and had then a cloak and handkerchief on—at half-past four she was brought back by Mr. Jones and Mrs. Jeal—she had not got her cloak and handkerchief on then—the prisoner had once

been my servant, and on the Monday previous to this she had called at my house, and had been sent to fetch the child from school.

ELIZABETH OLDFIELD . I keep a school in Great Union-street, Newington-causeway—Frances Watts comes to my school—on the 27th of Feb., at half-past three o'clock, the prisoner came to fetch her—she had done go on the Monday before—the child went with her—she had this cloak on—I cannot say she had the handkerchief.

THOMAS JOHN JONES . I am a cow-keeper, and live in East-street, West-square, Walworth. At half-past four o'clock that afternoon I saw the prisoner, who had this little child with her—in consequence of what Mrs. Jeal said to me I asked the prisoner who the child belonged to—she told me a lady gave her the child to take a walk—I asked where the lady lived—she told me to mind my own business, and what was that to me—the child showed me her way home—I delivered her to her mother, and gave the prisoner into custody—this cloak was on the prisoner's shoulder, and this handkerchief had some oranges and apples and biscuits in it, tied up.

ELIZA JEAL . I saw the prisoner with the child that afternoon—I recognised her, and followed her—I asked her whose child it was—she said her mistress's—I spoke to Jones—the prisoner had this cloak on her shoulder.

RICHARD WHEATLEY (police-constable, M 161.) I took the prisoner—on the way to the station-house she said she put the child's cloak over her own shoulder to keep her warm.

Prisoner's Defence. I frequently went to see the children, and I asked Mrs. Watts if I might go and take the child a walk; she said I might have it any time to take a walk.

NOT GUILTY .