Rosena Hammond

343

Maureen Withey on 9th June 2026

Robberies at Coggeshall Caroline Rand, 17, single woman, was indicted for l2 yards of printed cotton, the property of Thomas Kettle, of Great Coggeshall; and Mary Ann Goodson, the older, was indicted for feloniously receiving the same. Rand pleaded guilty. It appeared that suspicion being attached  to Rand and other girls on another charge, the house of Goodson, where they lodged, was searched, and the property in question was found concealed in large hole in the kitchen floor. It was taken to several shopkeepers Coggeshall by the police, and was at length identified the prosecutor, as having been stolen from his shop.— Guilty. Caroline Near, aged 17,  pleaded guilty stealing four yards of printed cotton, the property of the same prosecutor. —A prior conviction was proved. Rosina Hammond, aged 17, was indicted for stealing loaf of bread, the property of John Wenden, at Great Coggeshall. On the 18th April prisoner was observed Mr. Coe, confectioner, who lives nearly opposite prosecutor,  to go into his shop, take a loaf from the counter, put it under her shawl, and leave the shop; he immediately went to the shop and informed prosecutor's sister, who was then waiting on a girl who bad gone in with prisoner. Mr. Wenden coming in, pursued the prisoner, and found her in company with two other girls; the loaf was under her shawl. She said she did not steal it. but that it given her by Caroline Rand.— Guilty. Mrs. Hall, matron of Chelmsford House of Correction, produced certificate of two previous convictions. —The foreman of the jury said they recommended  her to mercy, as she might have committed the offence from distress.—The Noble Chairman could not concur in the recommendation; it might have been received before proof had been adduced of other convictions, but he now thought it was quite misplaced. Hammond was again indicted with Caroline Rand and Mary Ann Goodson, aged 15, for stealing 31 yards of silk, belonging to Thomas  Kettle. was proved by Kesiah Norman, bonnet maker, that the three prisoners brought 31 yards of silk to her to make up three bonnets for them, but that afterwards, hearing they were in the cage, she suspected the silk was stolen, and took it to Mr. Moore's shop. It was identified by Mr. Kettle, but he could not say how long had missed it, and could not prove that it was not sold at his shop, prisoners were acquitted. Mary Ann Goodson, the elder, was again indicted for feloniously receiving a cotton dress, the property of the same prosecutor.  Emma Saunders pleaded guilty to stealing the same.—Police constable ?ogerson proved finding the dress in hole under the floor in prisoner’s house; it was identified by the prosecutor both  from the pattern and the quantity- Guilty. The above prisoners were then brought up to receive sentence. The Noble Chairman said the court had endeavoured to discriminate in the cases, taking the various circumstances into consideration. It was painful to obliged to adjudge a severe punishment upon some of them, but upon others  they were glad to pass a lenient sentence, hoping that it would have a good effect.  In addition to two convictions against Goodson, the elder, she had the guilt upon her of bringing up her own daughter to crime. She was then sentenced to ten years' transportation—Rand, Hammond, and Near (having been previously convicted), to 7 years' transportation, and Saunders and Mary Ann Goodson  to three months’ hard labour at Colchester House of Correction. —With the exception of Hand, who appears to be most hardened offender, the prisoners seemed to feel deeply their unfortunate situations. Essex Herald, 28 May 1844.