The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-23 00:00:00

THAMES.

INGRATITUDE AND ROBBERY..--Anne Stephens, a ser-
vant girl about 17 years of age, was brought before Mr.
Woolrych, charged with committing several robberies.
About two years ago the prisoner was an inmate of a
refuge for destitute girls in Buxton -street, Spitalfields,
where she was treated in the kindest manner, and a situa-
tion obtained for her. One day last summer she called on
Mrs. Jefferies, sick visitor, who knew the girl had been in
the refuge, was very kind to her, and was glad to see her
apparent improvement. The prisoner told Mrs. Jefferies
she was in service and doing well. After the prisoner had
teen in the house some time, and represented she had a
week's leave of absence, Mrs. Jefferies went out leaving her
in charge of the house. On her return the prisoner was
gone. Mrs. Jefferies missed a sovereign from an ornament
on her mantel-shelf, and a gold pin, a relic of her husband.
She saw no more of the prisoner until she was in custody
on another charge. The prisoner entered the service of
Mrs. Sophia Honour, of Elicott-street, Globe-road, and re-
mained with her for three months, until the 27th of
January last, when she absconded, while her mistress was
from home, taking with her a shawl, a sovereign, 20s. in
silvtr, two petticoats, the skirt of a dress, a mantle, and
other property, valued in all at £5. The prisoner was sub-
sequently arres ed by Alexander Taylor, a police-constable,
No. 112 K. She was then wearing the shawl and
petticoats belonging to her mistress, and they were
taken from her. A mantle belonging to Mrs.
Honour was pawned by the prisoner for 3s. 6d., and
it was produced and identified. Mrs. Honour also re-
cognised her shawl and petticoats, and stated, in answer to
questions by the magistrate, that when she took the pri-
soner into her service her character was not particularly
good There was suspicion on the girl, but to save her she
gave her a trial. The girl robbed her the first day she
entered her service, and had been entrusted with money to
pay the tradesmen's bills. The prisoner had not paid the
bills, and had appropriated the money to her own use.
Taylor said the mother of t'ie prisoner had restored to
him a gold ring, which the prisoner denied having taken
from her mistress.

Mrs. Honour identified the ring as her property.
Other evidence was given, from which it appeared the
prisoner was very unmanageable in the refuge where she
was sheltered, and that she had been in the service of a
gentleman who took her out of the refuge, and in return for
the kindness of the gentleman and his wife, she robbed them
of clothes and other property.
The prisoner's mother said the prisoner always was a
very unmanageable girl.
The prisoner pleaded guilty.
Mr. Woolrych said the prisoner was a most hardened
offender, an ungrateful and incorrigible thief, who had
repaid kindness with ingratitude, and shamefully plundered
ht r benefactors. All attempts to reclaim the prisoner had
been in vain, and he would try what the severe but whole•
some discipline of a gaol would effect. He sentenced the
prisoner to be imprisoned for four months in the House of
Col rection and kept to hard labour.