Newton: Police: Yesterday: Before Dr. Atkinson: …
Alleged Pocket Picking: Jane Grey and Mary Ann Pritchard were charged with stealing from the person of Diana Charlotte a purse containing a half sovereign, two half crowns, and some coppers on the previous night. Prosecutrix, an elderly woman, stated that she was going down Queen Street about seven o’clock the previous night, when the prisoners called after her and asked the way to the station. The witness told them, and then said they were wrongly directed. Prichards pressed close to her whilst Grey questioned her as to who lived in the shop close by. They then left her and she, putting her hand in her pocket and immediately after missed her purse and its contents. The witness then returned and caught the prisoners, and Pritchard she accused of stealing her purse, which she denied, and called the witness “a nasty old wench”. Someone picked up a purse close to their feet, and asked the witness if it was hers? She said it was. Prisoners subsequently offered her half a crown to let them go but she said, “Don’t you take it, and I will fetch the sergeant”. Prisoners then made off, and the witness followed them, and shortly after Sergt. Nicholls arrived. The purse produced was her property; it contained only half a sovereign, the two half crowns and coppers were gone. Minnie Heawards said she was in Queen Street the previous night and saw the prosecutrix and the prisoners there. Passing by Mr. Pinsent’s shop, she picked up a purse on the pavement; prosecutrix and the prisoners were just off the pavement in the road …
Prisoners were then remanded to the Petty Sessions on Tuesday next.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
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