Ann Conroy

343

Maureen Withey on 29th December 2021

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 29 December 2021), January 1826, trial of ANN CONROY (t18260112-45). ANN CONROY, Theft > theft from a specified place, 12th January 1826. Middlesex Cases, Second Jury, Before Mr. Justice Park. 226. ANN CONROY was indicted for stealing, on the 13th of September , at St. Mary-le-bone , 1 gown, value 5s.; 1 shawl, value 3s.; 1 pelisse, value 10s.; 1 pair of boots, value 2s.; 1 bonnet, value 2s., and 1 pair of shoes, value 1s., the goods of Mary Bowstead , spinster ; 2 dresses, value 30s.; 2 pelisses, value 30s.; 3 petticoats, value 3s.; 2 night gowns, value 2s.; 4 shifts, value 4s.; a pair of stockings, value 2s.; 2 petticoats, value 2s.; 1 towel, value 1d.; 15 spoons, value 30s., and 45 yards of silk, value 8l., the goods of Sarah Hunter , widow ; and 2 handkerchiefs, value 4s., the goods of William Crowder , in the dwelling-house of the said William Crowder . SARAH HUNTER. I live in Charles-street, Middlesex Hospital ; the prisoner came into my service in September; on the morning of the 12th or 13th of December, I gave her a month's warning - she left that evening. I had gone out about six o'clock, and returned between nine and ten, and was told she was gone. I then missed two dresses, worth 30s., thirteen silver spoons, worth 2l., three petticoats, worth 5s., and several other articles which I do not recollect. The house belongs to Mr. Crowder. MARY BOWSTEAD. I live with Mrs. Hunter - the prisoner was her servant . On the 13th of December, between seven and eight o'clock at night she left the house. I heard her in the house after seven, and did not see her go away - within a quarter of an hour after she left I missed a pelisse, a dress, a shawl, a bonnet, a pair of boots and shoes - they were worth more than 40s. I saw them at the office on the 14th in possession of Buckeridge. HENRY RICHARD BUCKERIDGE . I am an officer of Mary-le-bone. On the 14th of December, about half-past four o'clock, I went to No. 1, Little Welbeck-street, next door to the Edinburgh Castle, public-house - when I arrived I saw a hackney-coach at the door - I went into the house, and saw the prisoner, a woman named Hickey, Mrs. Harrington, and the coachman - the prisoner and Hickey seemed to be intoxicated; I asked the prisoner if her name was not Conroy, which she denied; I said"Why, you were servant to Mrs. Hunter" - she also denied that, and denied having lived at Mr. Crowder's - Hickey also denied it. A trunk stood by the side of them - I asked whose it was - Conroy and Hickey said it was not theirs - I said I should detain them all - Hickey threw down a pocket-book which had a duplicate in it, which does not apply to this property. I took from Conroy's hand some keys, and the duplicate of a piece of silk, pawned for 30s. on the 14th of December. Mr. Crowder and Allison came in and identified Conroy: I immediately took them all to the office, and opened the box in the presence of them all. The first thing I saw was various lengths of silk, containing, in all, twenty-five yards - there was a silk dress, and pelisse, three petticoats, two night gowns, four shifts, four silver tea-spoons, two silver table-spoons, a stuff dress, a cloth pelisse, and a pair of silk stockings, all of which I gave to Mrs. Hunter, at the second examination, about the 18th - they were in my custody till then; from the prisoner's person I took a bombazeen gown, a shawl, a cloth pelisse, and bonnet - she had them on; I delivered them with a pair of boots and shoes, from the trunk, to Miss Bowstead, at the second examination, by order of the Magistrate. I produce six more tea-spoons, a dessert spoon, and a salt-spoon - every thing was in the trunk except what was found on her person. THOMAS KERRY . I am apprentice to Mr. Neat, a pawnbroker. On the 14th of December, ten yards of silk were pawned for 30s., in the name of Ann Smith, by some person whom I do not know - I gave the person the duplicate which was found on the prisoner. JOSEPH ALLISON . I am a silk mercer. This silk was sent to Mrs. Hunter's, by one of my young men; I cannot swear to it, having no mark on it; it was such silk as this - I have compared the silk in the trunk with what was pawned - they belong to the same piece - I have no doubt of it being what I sent Mrs. Hunter. I went with Buckeridge, and found the trunk, and saw it opened at the office - his evidence is correct. HENRY ROE . I am apprentice to Mr. Morrit, a pawnbroker, of High-street, Mary-le-bone. On the 14th of December the prisoner pawned a shift for 3s.; I had not seen her before, but am certain of her person; I saw her again at the office, three or four days after. ROBERT SEWERS . I am shopman to Mr. Dobree, pawnbroker, of Oxford-street. On the 12th of December a handkerchief was pawned for 2s. 9d., in the name of Carroll - I cannot recollect who by. MARY ANN CARROLL . I am nearly twelve years old. I have known the prisoner some time; I met her at the corner of Wild-street (I think it was this day five weeks); she asked me to go to Mr. Dobree's, and pawn a silk handkerchief for her for 4s. - it was before dinner time - she offered me a penny, and I did it, but got only 2s. 9d. - I gave the name of Carroll - I gave her the money and duplicate, and she gave me a penny. WILLIAM HARRINGTON . I live at No. 1, Little Welbeck-street, Mary-le-bone. On the 13th of December, about ten o'clock at night, the prisoner called at the door of my lodging, which is on the ground floor, and asked if I would give her room for her box till the morning; I said I did not know that I had any room, as my place was small; I consented afterwards, and she asked me to help her in with the box; I went to the Edinburgh Castle, next door, and found a box standing at the coach-door - I carried it in in her presence; she and Mrs. Hickey followed me in - Hickey wanted to go away - the prisoner said she must stop there for the night; I looked at her and she said "Oh, we will sit up here." I did not like it, but my wife threw a mattress on the floor for them. We had some supper - I lent the prisoner 8d., to fetch some gin, which we drank, and they went to bed; next morning we went to breakfast - she said she would have something to drink first - she went to the box, took out something like a shift or shirt, went out, returned without it, and threw down a shilling to pay me the 8d. I was then going out, and called on Plank, to inform him, but he was out, and I could not find an officer. FRANCES HARRINGTON . I am the last witness's wifeOn the 13th of December the prisoner asked to leave her box till the morning. My husband fetched the box in, and a woman, named Hickey, came in with her; they were both rather intoxicated - Hickey wanted to go home - they said they could stop there; I said I had no where for them to sleep - she said they would sit up in a chair; I put a mattress on the floor, and they staid all night, and next morning I asked them to have breakfast; the prisoner said they would have some spirits; she opened her box and took out something, and asked me to let my little girl pawn it; I refused, and she went herself, returned, and paid my husband 8d.; she took her box away about twelve o'clock, and came back again with it between four and five o'clock; Hickey was with her; the officers came in a few minutes and took her away - he asked if she lived with Mrs. Hunter - she said No, and said the box was not hers. They took her to the office with the box. She had told me the night before, that she had a parcel of silk in the box, and after my husband went out in the morning she took out a piece of silk, and shewed me - it was exactly of this colour - she asked me to cut enough for an umbrella off it - (my husband is an umbrella maker) - I said I should like to measure it first, which I did, and it measured forty yards; after I cut it I said "In the name of God, Ann, how did you come by all this?" she said "I nabbed it - I have plenty more, and silver spoons too;" I said "How could you do so, you will be hung;" she said "Oh, never fear, she is an old widow, and she won't know where to find me;" I asked where she lived; she said "In Charles-street;" I asked if she kept a silk mercer's shop - she said she was a dress-maker; I asked her name; she said "No matter;" I told her she must leave my place instantly, and then I got so flurried that I do not know what more passed - only I remember her going away from my place. THOMAS SPENCER . I am a hackney coachman. I was in the Mary-le-bone ranks with my coach, on the 13th or 14th of December, and was called and took the prisoner up at No. 1, Welbeck-street; she told me to fetch a box, and put it into the coach, which I did; I drove her about, and drove her back with the box, without her getting out of the coach; the box was not taken out till I took it to the same house again. WILLIAM CROWDER. I live in Charles-street, Middlesex Hospital, in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone, and rent the house. Mrs. Hunter lodges there. Here are two handkerchiefs which I believe to be mine, but there is no mark on them. CHRISTOPHER GREAVES . I am a pawnbroker, and have ten yards of silk pawned in the name of Jane Smith - I do not know who by. MRS. HUNTER. These eight spoons are mine, and six more were given up to me - they are worth 2l. I received from the officer several things, which are worth above 3l. I am a widow. MARY BOWSTEAD. The officer gave me a dress and pelisse, which are worth 1l. Prisoner. I beg for mercy. GUILTY - DEATH. Aged 26. Recommended to Mercy.