Amelia Baker

343

Maureen Withey on 24th November 2023

On Friday, Amelia Baker, alias Ann Baker, alias Elizabeth Aldred, by which latter name she was tried and convicted at our Lady-day sessions, and  and sentenced to six months' imprisonment  for robbery, was brought before Simon Cobb, EN., Mayor, and the sitting Magistrates, charged with having robbed Mrs Frances Simpson, a widow in whose house she resided, under the following circumstances —Edmund Bowles, a policeman, said that, in consequence of information that Mrs. Simpson's house, situated in  Dr. Penrick’s row, was on fire, he went down between six and seven o'clock; Mrs. Simpson was from home. When he got there a number of persons were assembled trying to put the fire out, and the engines speedily arriving, the flames were got under. Mrs. Simpson did not return home till two or three hours afterwards, when she informed him her drawers had been broken open, end that she had been robbed of four silver spoons, 3 half-crowns, a gold pin, three chemises and other articles.  Having found out where prisoner was, he went to her and took her into custody, and a parcel was delivered to him by Mrs. Marjoram, as belonging to and left by the prisoner, containing, among articles belonging to herself  the spoons, three half-crowns and the gold pin.—Mrs. Simpson stated that she and the prisoner left the house about three o'clock. Mrs S. taking the key and leaving the window, which had  no fastening, so as it could be raised, and a person might enter.—Prisoner said that she had gone to tea at Mrs. Marjoram's  with whom she had remained till seven o'clock; but Mrs. M. swore that prisoner left her house alone, and was gone from five to six, during which time prisoner admitted that, wanting her umbrella, she bad gone, entered the house by the window, and struck a light to find what she wanted. —Smith, a man of colour, deposed that he lives in the same row in a house adjoining Simpson's; that on going home he saw smoke, and suspecting it must be from a fire, he got on the wall. which separated the two and saw the lower window of of Simpson's house open, and smoke issuing from it. He gave the alarm of fire, and assistance coming to him, he got in at the window, and put out the fire below stairs. He and Nixon then went up stairs, when they found the bed also on fire, and the mattress and hangings burnt through There was not the smallest connexion between the fire above and below stairs, the floor of the bed-room not being burnt. He had no doubt the fire was the work of an incendiary.—The prisoner refused to give up the name of the individual who was with her, asserting that she was alone. She was fully committed for trial at the next sessions for the felony, and the charge of arson is to be continued, there being strong suspicion that the prisoner is the guilty party. She is to be brought up again on that charge. Cambridge General Advertiser, 13 Nov 1839.

343

Maureen Withey on 24th November 2023

NSW. Convicts Application to Marry. Charles Harwood, per Marquis of Hastings (1), age 39, Life, T. of L.; and Amelia Baker, alias Elizabeth Aldred, per Surrey (9), age 25, sentence, 14 years, Bond. Permission requested by Rev. N.J. Coffey, at Parramatta, 16 Mar 1843.