Isabella Hopes

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Tony Beale on 28th May 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869 for Isabella Hopes. 43/2709 dated 10/11/1843. In Port Macquarie. Note: Cancelled having been sent to the factory for 6 months for robbery. Restored in 1845 ToL no 45/929 dated 12/5/1845 In Liverpool. Altered to Parramatta in Dec1846 then to Newcastle 23/4/1847 and then Patrick's Plains 21/10/1847 New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851 Granted 16/6/1846 Isabella Hope 31 ToL (life) per ship Mary (5) granted to marry William Robinson 28 ToL (10yrs) per ship Maitland. Rev H H Bobart Parramatta

116

Tony Beale on 28th May 2021

Old Bailey Online 472. ISABELLA HOPES was indicted for that she on the 6th of November, at Edmonton, Middlesex, unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously did administer to, and cause to be taken by Elizabeth Cambridge, certain poison, to wit, one drachm of white arsenic, the same being a deadly poison, with intent feloniously, wilfully, and of her malice aforethought, to kill and murder her, against the Statute. 2nd COUNT, calling that which was administered "a certain destructive thing." MR. CLARKSON conducted the Prosecution. ELIZABETH CAMBRIDGE . I carry on the business of a market-gardener at Tottenham, Middlesex. The prisoner was in my service in November last. On the 5th of November I had lost 3l. 10s.; I had lost money before, but did not distrust the prisoner—I cannot exactly say how much I lost altogether—in consequence of suspicion, I examined her clothes after she was gone to bed, between ten and eleven o'clock on the 5th of November—(we had no regular agreement for any wages)—I found £7 or £8 in her pocket—the money was in sovereigns and half-sovereigns, and there was some silver—she was asleep—I awoke her, and told her I felt very uncomfortable, that I missed the money, and I said, "There is only you and your brother in my house"—(his name is Walker, he is a half-brother)—she said, "I hope you do not distrust me, Mrs. Cambridge"—my answer was there was only her and her brother in the house—I said, "Do you think your brother's key opens my box?"—she said, "I do not know, his key is in the box, and you can try it"—I did so, and it would not fit it—I told her I was deficient in my payments; I was going to take the money to London with me next morning, and did not know what I should do for want of it, and asked if she had any she could lend me—she said, "How much do you want?"—I said, "Three or four sovereigns"—I had not at that time told her I had discovered the money in her pocket—I asked her if I should hand her pocket to her—she said yes, if I pleased—I handed her her pocket—she took out a purse, and wished to give me what I had asked for, but she wished to keep the remainder, as I thought, out of my sight; it appeared so—she gave me four sovereigns—I save she had more, and said to her, "It is well for you, Isabella, that you have got more money than you knew of; I am See originalClick to see original afraid this is all my money which I have lost at different times"—she said, "It is, Mrs. Cambridge, I am sorry for it, but it is your money: if you will promise you will never tell any one of it, I will never repeat the offence again"—she bore a most excellent character before, and I told her I would forgive her, I never would tell any body of it, nor would I ever tell her herself of it, provided she never would repeat the offence again—the money was restored to me, and there the matter ended—I left my house next morning (the 6th) between one and two o'clock, and went to Covent-garden—I left her in bed. Q. Before you left the house, had you any conversation with her, or any intimation, from which you could collect that it was her intention to leave you? A. None whatever—I used to keep the money which I lost in a small box, which was locked inside a larger box, which stood in my bed-room—I kept my tea in a canister on the chimney-piece in the kitchen—she knew I kept it there—I always kept it there—it was unlocked—I had taken tea out of that canister on the 5th—I had bought the tea on Tuesday, the 4th—I had not felt any inconvenience or sickness after taking tea on the 5th—I returned to my house about one o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th—the prisoner was then gone—I took tea about six o'clock that afternoon—as near as I can say, we commenced taking tea about six o'clock—John Walker, her half-brother, took tea with me—he had not been to market with me—I had left him at home when I went, and found him there when I returned—I took the tea out of this canister, which was in the place where it was accustomed to be—I took the tea from the canister myself, and made it myself—about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes after taking it, I felt a violent sickness—I felt no pain only from the violent retching—I sent Walker to my neighbour's, to go for the doctor, as I thought he would not be able to go so far himself—he was ill too—I complained first, and be complained in not more than two or three minutes—nobody took tea but him and myself—Mr. Moon if my medical man—he lives about a quarter of a mile from my house—Mr. Moon was not able to come himself, but sent his assistant, who came in about half an hour, I should think—I was getting worse before he arrived—the sickness was not accompanied with much pain—the assistant gave me warm water—I went to bed, and after twelve or one o'clock, I began to get better—the warm water threw off from my stomach what was there—Mrs. Budd, who worked on my ground, sat up with me that night—I saw the prisoner again on the Sunday following—she came to my house—I did not expect her—I asked her if she could tell me any thing of the circumstance which had takes place—if she knew any thing of what had been put in the tea—she said she did not—I cannot exactly say whether I began with that, or whether I spoke to her about her absence—I asked if she knew any thing of what had been put in the tea—she said, she did not know any thing about it—I asked her what was her reason for leaving my house—she said she could not account for it—I asked her if she thought I had used her ill—she said, "No"—Mrs. Budd's name was not mentioned at that time—she did not continue in my service after she came back on Sunday—the reason she came was, I had got a neighbour of mine to say I wished to speak to her—I did not know where she was to be found—I sent her a message, and she came—she staid about a quarter of an hour—I cannot recollect when I saw her next—I should think it was in about a fortnight. Q. Did she come to you, or you go to her? A. Her brother had a letter—she came to my house—I asked her if she had any thing more to say, if See originalClick to see original she knew any thing about it; and she said she really did not know any thing about it—I saw her again a month ago last Monday—she came to my house of her own accord, and said, she came to speak to me—that she had something to say to me, as she felt very uncomfortable—she said, "I met Mrs. Budd to-day, and she told me all about respecting the poison"—she said, on the morning when you left my house, Mrs. Budd was working in the fields taking up potatoes—she had to come home for some sacks, and in coming home for them, she took the key from a certain place where we leave it—she opened the door, came in, and got the arsenic—she had it all ready in her pocket, and that she mixed it along with the tea—she said, Mrs. Budd did that, (Mrs. Budd had attended me on the night of my sickness,) and she was sorry she had not got more to finish me. Q. Before she made this statement, had you expressed any suspicion to her about Mrs. Budd being likely to have done such a thing? A. No; I had had no quarrel or difference with Mrs. Budd of any sort—I do not remember her saying any thing more—I did not say any thing to the prisoner about this statement—she went away to her lodging, I believe—I do not remember that I saw her again till she was taken into custody—I had a man-servant, named Shepherd, sleeping in my house formerly, while the prisoner was in my service, and before November, I directed him not to sleep in the house any longer, from observations I had made of his and the prisoner's conduct—I was very much troubled with rats at the time—I had corn in the house—I discharged Shepherd from sleeping in the house, about a month before this happened—I had purchased some arsenic to destroy the rats, which I placed between the joists and boards of the upper room in the washhouse—it was concealed between the joists and rafters of the wash-house, in three different papers—the prisoner knew I had it there—I told her as a caution, at any time if she was cleaning, if she should meet with this small parcel, to be sure and not meddle with it, for it was poison—I showed it to her in that place—the room was not locked—any one who knew where it was could get at it. My medical gentleman took a portion of the tea out of the canister—a neighbour took another portion of it, and the rest was thrown into the fire—I am sure it was the remainder of the same tea as I had taken that afternoon—Mr. Delanor, a farmer, took the other portion—when Mr. Moon came, I looked at the tea in the canister, and saw it was quite white with something—if my attention had been called to the tea before I had made it, I should have discovered it in a moment—I had no suspicion when I made the tea, and no reason to look at it particularly, when I put it in the pot. COURT. Q. Had you a candle? A. No; it was dusk when I made the tea, and I did not perceive any thing extraordinary in it. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. Where did you take your tea? A. In the kitchen, when I keep the canister—after having tea on the 5th, I replaced the canister on the mantel-shelf—it was about a quarter or twenty minutes after six o'clock when I was taken ill—I commenced tea about six o'clock—Mr. Moon's assistant came about half an hour after I had done tea, near seven o'clock—no one had coat into the kitchen before he arrived—I remained in the kitchen the whole time—I made my tea in the dusk—I had not got a candle, and could not perceive what was in it—I had expressed a wish to set the prisoner afterwards, and sat came on Sunday, and then I did not see her till about a month after—I thought her statement about Mrs. Budd a most extraordinary out—I made no remark to her about Mrs. Budd—I had no reason to have any suspicion of Mrs. Budd. Q. How far was the prisoner living from you after leaving your service, till she made this disclosure? A. I think about half a mile, but I do not know the place—it is in the parish of Tottenham—I did not know she was living there for some time—I did know afterwards—I knew where she was to be met with—she was taken into custody about a fortnight ago—she was taken up in the neighbourhood—she has resided in the neighbourhood till about the 19th of last month—she bore, up to the 5th of November, a most excellent character, as a harmless, good-hearted, good-natured girl. Q. Do you happen to know she has been subject to fits which affect her intellect? A. I did not know it then—I understand so now—I heard it from her brother. MR. CLARKSON. Q. She was in your service about nine weeks? A. Yes, she had no fits during that time—she at times appeared a little stupid—she was able to go about her usual work—I never saw her before she came to live with me, but my mother knew her. COURT. Q. What quantity of tea might there be in the canister when you bought it on the 4th? A. It was a quarter of a pound which I put in on the Tuesday—I purchased it at a shop close by Spitalfields—I do not know the name—I have bought my tea there for twelve months before—I bought it on the 4th. MR. CLARKSON. Q. When did you see the arsenic which was placed in the wash-house, after you felt ill? A. On Saturday, the 8th—I went to examine where I had put it, and I think I can positively state the paper had never been touched—I do not know that any body but the prisoner knew of my placing it there. COURT. Q. You say it did not appear to have been touched, what makes you state that? A. It being wrapped up in the same way, and lying in the same place—there was no appearance of any being spilt by the side of it—to the best of my judgment, there was the same quantity in the paper, as when I first put it there—I cannot say how much there was, perhaps a quarter of an ounce—I gave 6d. for it—one of my men got it—I had no man sleeping in the house—the boy Walker slept in the house, and myself and the prisoner, but no one else—Shepherd worked on the premises—he did not take his meals on the premises—the powder was finish and white. JOHN WALKER . I am the prisoner's half-brother, and am twelve years old. I, the prisoner, and mistress, slept in the house at Tottenham, but nobody else at that time—I remember my mistress going to market on the 6th of November—she returned about one o'clock—I know Shepherd—he worked in Mrs. Cambridge's grounds—he came into the house, after she had gone to market, about a quarter after seven o'clock—the prisoner was standing talking to him in the wash-house—they talked together for about twenty minutes—I did not hear what they said—I went sway, and left them together—I only came up to the house for tools, and went back to my work—I returned again, in about ten minutes, and I found them still together—Shepherd went away while I was there—the prisoner said to him, "Good bye;" and he said, "For ever!"—she said, "No, not for ever"—she was attached to Shepherd—I breakfasted with the prisoner after that, but she was not with me all the time I was at breakfast—I then went again to my work—I had occasion to come back again, after some time, for some sacks, and I found Shepherd with the prisoner—that was about half-past eight o'clock—Shepherd had been home to his breakfast—he staid about with her ten minutes—I went to work in the field then, and when I came back again for some more sacks, he was going away—she called to him, and when she saw me she held her hand up to him, and said, "That will do; never mind"—when I went the second time for the sacks, she had not dressed herself to go out—I was going to the house afterwards for the sacks which had been emptied, that was about a quarter after nine o'clock—she was then dressed, and was coming out at the front gate—she had got her best clothes on, and a bundle under her arm—I asked her where she was going—she said Mrs. Cambridge had sent her to Mrs. Ratcliff's—she had a cloak on, and she put the bundle under the cloak—I did not expect she was not going to return—she did not return again that day—I went on with my work, and I came in to tea, about six o'clock—I found my mistress there—we sat down together—I saw her make the tea—she got it off the mantel-shelf, just above the fire in the kitchen—we drank tea together—I saw her take it from the canister, and make it—she was taken ill about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes after that—the house was locked up when the prisoner went away, and she laid the key by the side of the porch against the door, where it was usually laid—the house was locked as usual after she went out—I did not see her put the key by the side of the porch—I saw her coming out of the gate, which is a little distance from the door.—I felt ill about two or three minutes after my mistress—I felt a violent sickness—my mistress went to bed—she sent me to a neighbour, to fetch a doctor—I told the neighbour to go for the doctor, and then came home—I felt ill before I went out, and she told me not to go myself to the doctor, but to send the neighbour—after that she sent me to ask Mrs. Budd to come down to stop with her all night—I was taken so ill on the road, I could not proceed—I sat down on the road side—there was a little girl along with me, and I sent her on—while I was sitting by the side of the road, the prisoner passed by—I was sick by the road side—I got up, and asked her where she was going—she said she was going home—she would take the coach and go home—her friends live in Yorkshire—the coaches which go towards her home pass through that neighbourhood—I told her mistress and I were very ill, and asked her if she would go home to Mrs. Cambridge's—she said no, she would not go home, but would take a coach and go home to Yorkshire—my father and mother, live near Bowes, in Yorkshire—my mother and hers are the same person. Cross-examined. Q. You had seen Shepherd about a quarter after nine o'clock that morning? A. Yes; but he was not inside the house—he was working on the ground—I had seen him about the place between then and when I had tea—he was working at the same place as I was, bringing potatoes with the cart—he did not have his meals there—I saw him after his dinner time—he goes to dinner about one o'clock—he went into the stable, got his horse, and harnessed it—it was Mrs. Cambridge's horse—he went home to his dinner at one o'clock, and returned about two, and went to the stable, and harnessed the horse—the stables are about a hundred yards from the house—I go to my meals in the house—after having my meals, I go out to my work. COURT. Q. I suppose Shepherd knew when they used to keep the key? A. Yes. MR. DOANE. Q. It was known to every body in the place that the key hung in the porch? A. No; only Shepherd knew it—Shepherd could have let himself in before one o'clock, because there was nobody in the house—he could have done so between nine o'clock and one—I was See originalClick to see original out at work from one o'clock till tea time—I saw Shepherd after one o'clock—Mrs. Cambridge came home at one o'clock—she was at home at one o'clock, when I came in—there are seven or eight rooms in the house—the door was not kept locked when my mistress was at home—any body might open it and walk in—my mistress usually sits in the kitchen—the door opens into the hall, and then into the kitchen at the front—there is a back entrance which opens into the wash-house, and then into the kitchen—a door parts the kitchen from the wash-house—Shepherd could not go in at the back door without going to the front—they go in at the front door, and the back door is bolted inside. COURT. Q. When you speak of the key, do you mean the key of the front or back door? A. The front door—the back door was bolted inside. MR. CLARKSON. Q. Who was at work with you in the field? A. Mrs. Budd, three men, and Shepherd—Shepherd was going backwards and forwards, taking the potatoes from me to the house, but not into the house—they were banking the potatoes in a yard close by the house—Shepherd appeared to be engaged about his business, as usual, from the time I saw him with my sister in the wash-house till Mrs. Cambridge returned—Mrs. Budd remained working in the field all the morning—I took home a sack, and she came to meet me, seeing me heavily loaded with the sack, and returned with me—she was working in the field till after one o'clock—she did not go to the house till night, to my knowledge—she lived at Edmonton, about a mile from Mrs. Cambridge. COURT. Q. Where did Shepherd take the potatoes to? A. To the yard—he had no business about the house, unless he went for tools—he banked the potatoes in the yard—he went home to his dinner about half a quarter of a mile from the house—I have no reason to know that he went to the house for tools between nine and one o'clock. MR. CLARKSON. Q. He was engaged carrying potatoes from one place to the other? A. No, he had a cart and horse that carried them from the field to where they were banked—he would not want any tools—the people forked them up, and he took them away in the cart. SARAH BUDD . I am the wife of Charles Budd, who is a labouring man, living at Edmonton. In November last, I worked for Mrs. Cambridge, in the potato field—I know the prisoner—I had no quarrel with her or with Mrs. Cambridge. Q. Had you gone either on the 6th of November, or any other day, into the kitchen or wash-house, and put any arsenic which you found there, in your pocket? A. No, I did not put any arsenic into Mrs. Cambridge's tea-canister—I did not know where she kept her tea-canister—I did not know the had any arsenic for any purpose—Mrs. Cambridge sent for me on the night of the 6th of November—I sat up with her till about three o'clock in the morning, till she got better—she was very sick for above two hours after I went to her—I first went to her near upon nine o'clock—what she threw from her stomach was not preserved—I never expressed any regret to the prisoner, that when I came that night to Mrs. Cambridge, I was sorry I had not finis

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Tony Beale on 28th May 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Convict Indents, 1788-1842 Bound Indentures 1834-1835. From Yorkshire Single protestant who could read. Guilty of poisoning. 43/2709. 5' 2" pale complexion light sandy brown hair and grey eyes