Cambridge Independent Press 19 Feb 1909: Theft from Frank Aves

THEFTS AT SHELFORD AND TRUMPINGTON

TRAMPING HAWKER SENTENCED

At the Cambridge Division Petty Sessions on Saturday, Thomas Smith, mat maker, of no fixed abode, was charged on remand with stealing a sovereign, the money of Lavinia Freestone, at Great Shelford, on February 9th.

Miss Lavinia Freestone, daughter of Mr. George Freestone, baker, of Great Shelford, stated that on February 9th she was serving in the shop and about 6.40 p.m. Miss Peck went to pay a bill, and put a sovereign on the counter. At that time the prisoner came in with a plant in his hand, and asked witness to enquire if the lady would buy a plant. Witness gave Miss Peck her change, and was about to pick up the sovereign when prisoner pushed the plant into her hand. She went into the back room to show her mother, leaving the prisoner in the shop. Witness went back and told him they did not want the plant, and he took it and nearly ran out of the shop. When he had gone, witness found that the sovereign had gone too.

Susan Peck, domestic servant, of Great Shelford, stated that she went to the baker’s shop to pay a bill. She placed a sovereign on the counter. Prisoner then came into the shop with a plant. Witness received her change, and came out, leaving the sovereign on the counter. When she got outside, she looked through the shop window, and saw the prisoner move to the edge of the counter. Witness went back, and made a communication to Miss Freestone.

Alfred William Barker, butcher, of Great Shelford, stated that on the evening in question, prisoner went into his shop and witness served him with eight pennyworth of steak. Prisoner put down a sovereign, and witness asked him if he had not some smaller change. The man replied that he had not, and said, “We are doing a bit of threshing up at the farm.” Witness gave him the change.

Thomas George Beilby, harness maker, of Great Shelford, stated that about 6 p.m. on 9th February he was in Mr. Marfleet’s shop, when the prisoner came in, carrying the basket (produced), which contained plants. Prisoner asked witness to buy a plant, as he and his mates were hard up, and wanted a drink.

Christopher David Freestone stated that about 6.40 p.m. on February 9th, he was in a backroom which looked into the shop and saw the prisoner leave. In consequence of a communication from his sister, he went after the prisoner, and saw him coming out of Mr. Barker’s shop. Witness asked him to go back to the shop, but he turned round and walked off. Witness followed him to within a few yards of the policeman’s house. The policeman was just coming out, and witness gave the man into custody.

P.c. Hiner stated that when he took prisoner into custody he denied taking the sovereign and said that he had been mistaken for another man. On the way to the County Police Station, the prisoner said, “Good Lord, I do love money. If you had seen twenty like that, what would you have done.” Subsequently, the prisoner said, “I suppose I shall get six months for this, but I shall ask for more, as I am better off in the ‘stir’ (prison).”

Prisoner denied that he took the sovereign.

A second charge against him of stealing five boot brushes, of the value of 3s. the property of Frank Howard Aves, at Trumpington, on February 9th, was then investigated.

Prosecutor stated that on Tuesday last he left the brushes in a box inside the backdoor. When he went to use them the next morning, they had disappeared. He identified the brushes produced.

Mrs Aves also gave evidence as to the loss of the brushes, and said that on the morning of February 9th a man with a basket of plants went to the backdoor, but she did not go out to him.

P.c. Hiner stated that when he arrested the prisoner he found one of the brushes in the inside pocket [pocket] of his coat. The others were in the basket.

Prisoner said the “other two fellows” were carrying the basket, which did not belong to him. The one he had in his pocket was given to him.

Prisoner, who had four previous convictions against him, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to run consecutively.