Mary Wilson

116

Tony Beale on 7th October 2021

Old Bailey Online 1855. MARY WILSON and MARY EDAY were indicted for stealing, on the 26th of October , 3 veils, value 4l. 5s., and 30 yards of ribbon, value 2l., the goods of John Harvey , privately in his shop . Mr. BRODRICK conducted the prosecution. JOHN NORTON . I am shopman to Mr. John Harvey, a linen-draper , of Ludgate-hill . On the 26th of October the prisoners came into the shop in company together - they bought a veil and six yards of ribbon, which was put up for them; after I sold them the veil I saw Wilson put something into her muff in a hurried manner, which excited my suspicion, and after they paid, Mr. Harvey,(whom I had acquainted with it,) requested them to walk into the back-shop; he called me soon afterwards, and showed me a veil in Wilson's muff - I took it out; it was not the one I had sold them: it was not in paper, but folded up rough; a constable was called in, and as they were leaving I saw two more veils on the warehouse floor, where Wilson had stood - they were then in the passage, and did not see me find them. I got into a coach with them, and saw Wilson drop a piece of ribbon, which I picked up - that was ours, and I had not sold it them. When we got to the Compter, after they got out of the coach, the constable brought me another piece of ribbon, which was ours - when we were in the coach Eady cried; Wilson said she need not fret, for it was not her who had done it. - When Eady found the constable was sent for, she felt particularly anxious that the veil should be paid for, that they might go. Cross-examined by MR. PRENDERGAST. Q. You cannot say that she saw Wilson take the property? A. No; they laid out 20s., and were dressed as fashionable as possible; they were a quarter of an hour in the shop. Cross-examined by MR. BARRY. Q. They bought a veil and a piece of ribbon? A. Yes; I showed them the veils in the shop - Wilson said she must have made a mistake in putting her handkerchief from the counter into her muff. The three veils were worth 4l. 15s., and the ribbon above 2l.; we have about twenty shopmen, but I only attended to them. MR. JOHN HARVEY. Norton applied to me, and I asked the prisoners into the adjoining warehouse, and said, they were suspected of having taken more than they had paid for; I saw the corner of the veil projecting out of the muff, and called Norton, who took it out. DANIEL TURNER . I am a constable. I went in the coach with the prisoners; I saw Wilson's arms under her pelisse two or three times, and something drop - when the coach-door was open I found two rolls of ribbon, where Wilson had sat.(Property produced and sworn to). WILSON'S Defence. The veils lay all about the counter, and in putting my handkerchief into my muff I accidentally put one in; Mr. Harvey said, there was something in my muff, which I gave him, and he pulled the veil out with the handkerchief - as we got into the coach he accused us of taking two more - the shopman had asked if there were not some veils in the warehouse. JOHN NORTON re-examined. I do not recollect seeing a handkerchief in the muff; we never keep veils in the warehouse. I had asked the shopman if there were not some in the warehouse, but that was only an excuse, that I might get to tell Mr. Harvey. WILSON - GUILTY . Aged 26. Transported for Fourteen Years . EADY - NOT GUILTY .

116

Tony Beale on 7th October 2021

New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1810-1869 for Mary Wilson Ticket of leave butts (NRS 12202) No 37/470 dated 8/3/1837. From London convicted 2/10/1826. 5' 4" ruddy complexion brown hair hazel eyes. Slightly pock pitted. Sydney. Cancelled in 1837 for a misdemeanor for keeping a common brothel.