Huntingdon Bedford and Peterborough Gazette 28 Mar 1829: Connington and Wilson trial for burglary at Martha Humphreys' house
JOHN CONNINGTON, aged 35, and JOHN WILSON, aged 35, were indicted for having on the 27th of January last, burglariously broken into the dwelling-house of Mrs. Martha Humphreys, at Trumpington, and stealing therefrom divers articles of silver plate, silk and linen, her property. - Connington pleaded Guilty— Wilson pleaded Not Guilty, and was put upon his trial. — Martha Humphreys is 70 years of age, lives at Trumpington, and keeps no servant - she went to bed about seven o’clock on the evening of the robbery - was awoke about three o’clock in the morning by three men entering her bed-room — it was moon-light, they came to her bed-side and asked her for money, she said she had none — they said they would find it, and ransacked the bed for her pockets — two of them ransacked the drawers in the bed-room, while the third held her down — witness begged they would not hurt her — they told her to lay still and not stir, and they would not hurt her — they then went down stairs and ransacked her drawers —next morning she missed the property, consisting of gowns, shawls, table spoons, tea spoons, silver buckles, a silver watch, and several other articles of plate and jewelry. — Anthony Meyers is a jeweller at Bury St Edmund’s — prisoner asked him to buy some coin — he bought 13 for 17s — said he had some plate to sell — went away, but soon after returned with Connington — witness agreed to give them six guineas for the plate, told them to leave it and call again in the morning, they did so, when witness caused them to be apprehended. — Tolleday and Ward apprehended the prisoners. — The prosecutrix identified the property. — The prisoner’s examination was put in, wherein he confessed he was guilty, and described the manner in which the robbery had been effected. The prisoner was found Guilty. —The Judge said he should hesitate in recording this verdict; as to Connington, he could hold out no hopes of mercy, however, he should defer passing sentence until Connington had been put upon his trial for the house-breaking and robbery committed at Shepreth, only two days before the present offence.