The Atherstone Times. — 1879-02-08 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

MONDAY.  (Before H. Soden, F. Wyley, and W. H. Hill,  Esqr-s.)'  THKrr OF Boors.—Sarah Jeffs, married woman, ' a paum r, was charged with stealing, on the Ist inst., from the Union Workhouse, two pairs of boots, value us. 61., the property of the Guardians of the Poor. —Mr. Bicknell, master of the house, said the prisoner was an inmate of the Workhouse. On Saturday evening last, he was informed that a woman was being pushed over the Workhouse wall. He placed himself in a posi:ion to see what was going on, and the prison. r 'walked into his arms." It was very dark and he said, "Who is it," and the pri otter replied, "Jeffs." He took her to a room, where he noticed that she was holding something tightly in her hand. He asked her what it was, and she said it was a pawn ticket He attempted to take it from her, but, passing it into her other hand she put it into her mouth, and, despite his efforts to get hold of it, succeeded in swallowing it. The prison, r was then searched and a number of o'her pawn tickets were found upon her. Witness sent the porter to the police. station for an officer to go and visit the pawn shops, and at one pawn shop two pairs of boots belonging to the Guardians were found, and it was stated that a woman had pledged them during the evening. Prisoner had no business out of the house at that time. She had got out by means of a short ladder, which she had got from the roof of the house, and when she came back some men pushed her over the wall—Miss Rosa Bicknell, daughter of the last witness and governess at the Workhouse, identified the boots by a private mark, "No 12," upon them in her handwriting. They were in the store-room on Saturday, and the prisoner went in to get some boots. They were afterwards missed. —Charles Smith, assistant to Mr. Thompson, pawnbrolc:q., Silver street, said the two pairs of boots were pledged at their shop on Saturday night, between seven and eight o'clock. A little boy came first with the boots, stating that a Mrs. Leigh had sent them. Witness said he could not take them in pledge, and afterwards the prisoner herself came and said she was charwoman to Mrs. Leigh. She gave the name of Mrs. Plant, Cookstreet.- Police-constable Rose (No 1) said he went with the Workhous porter to Mr. Thompson's shop on Saturday night He there found that a woman had pawned two pairs of boots, in the name of Plant. Witness took possession of the boo and went to the Workhouse. Mr Bicknell identified them as belonging to the Guardians. The prisoner was sent for, and when asked if she knew a. ythinq about the boots she said, "Yes." She was tali._ to the police station, and Charged with stealitw the, boots, and she said, lam guilty."— In answer to the formal charge the prisoner pleaded guilty.— She was sentenced to three months imprisonment, with hard labour.—The Bench told Mr. Bicknell that if there had been any union mark upon these boots the pawnbrokers would not have taken them in pledge. A union mark, known to all pawn brokers was required to be put upon all articles belonging to the Guardians, and if a clear way could be seen to use such a mark it would prevent pawnbrokers taking th, se things in —Mr Bicknell said he would do his best to devise some such mark as the Bench suggested. Charles William Smith, Hales-street, painter, was charged with having attempted to commit suicide, on the 4th January.—The defendant had been previously before the Bench, and had been remanded in order that he might have an oppor unity of behaving himself.— Mr Norris stated that the man was now in a better state of mind, and the Bench gave him some good advice and discharged him.