Theft of Boots (1914)

Post date: Apr 26, 2014 7:55:55 PM

Kent Messenger report of 24th October on West Kent Quarter Sessions:

A COOL VISITOR AT WATERINGBURY.

Ellen Harriet Stacey, alias Venn, 32, laundress, was charged with housebreaking and the theft of clothes and boots at Wateringbury on July 13th.—Mr. Fletcher prosecuted.

The woman was seen by William Geo. Palmer to open the door of the house of William Henry Brooker, of Latter’s Buildings, Wateringbury, and to go inside. Miss Cole, another neighbour, saw her at the foot of the stairs, and prisoner informed her that prosecutor had said she might go in his house and lie

down. The prisoner took a pair of boots when she left, and a bundle of clothes had been made up into a parcel, although not removed from the house.

P.C. White arrested prisoner the same evening, but she was then without boots. Her own, however, were found under the table in the cottage. Prisoner had no explanation to offer. She received a bad character from the police, 27 convictions being proved.

She was sentenced to nine months’ hard labour.