Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 20 October 1893
Extensive Robberies at Conisborough
Mary Ann Humphreys, married woman, of Conisborough, and James Baldwin, alias John Smith, were put in the dock for having stolen a quantity of wearing apparel from William Gibson, Conisborough.
William Gibson, labourer, Conisborough, said that the female prisoner came to live with him as his wife about five years ago, and stayed until the 5th of August. The male prisoner had lived with him about ten weeks, and left the same date as the female prisoner. He went by the name of Smith, but he had since found out that his name was Baldwin. After their departure he missed a pair of boots and a shirt, which were now produced. The prisoner Baldwin said he had bought the shirt in Leeds and then in Mexborough when he (witness) identified the same where Baldwin was then living. Witness got the three pair of boots at Laycock’s, and the pair produced was one of them. He paid by instalments for the boots. He never gave permission to prisoners to take away either the shirt or the boots. The boots and shirt were worth about 12s.
John Robert Wooller, pawnbroker’s manager, of 95 Kirkgate, Leeds, said that on September 5th he received the boots produced from Humphreys. He advanced 4s. on them. Humphreys said they belonged to her husband. Witness on the 10th of the present month handed them over to Sergt. Ambler at Leeds.
Sergt. Ambler, who is stationed at Conisborough, said last Saturday morning he received the two prisoners into his custody. He went to Leeds on the 10th inst., and received the boots. After returning from Leeds he charged prisoners jointly with stealing a pair of boots and a shirt, now produced, on or about the 5th August from the house of Wm. Gibson, Conisborough.
Baldwin said that he bought the shirt in Leeds, and Humphreys said he, meaning Baldwin, wouldn’t wear the boots, so she pawned them.
Humphreys pleaded guilty to taking the boots, but not to taking the shirt.
Baldwin pleaded not guilty, and said he bought the shirt in Leeds seven weeks last Saturday, and gave 2s. 3d. for it.
Humphreys then stated that the shirt was not Gibson’s. He had never worn cotton shirts all the time she knew him. She was in Baldwin’s presence when he bought it. She took the boots away.
Elizabeth Wigglesworth said she lived at Conisborough with her husband, and that she had washed all the clothes for the complainant, and she had never washed a cotton shirt for him.
Prisoners were committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.
Mary Ann Humphreys was then charged with having stolen a number of articles belonging to the prosecutors, Wm. Gibson and John Smith.
Eliz. Wigglesworth was charged with aiding and abetting the prisoner Humphreys with stealing the articles below enumerated.
Wm. Gibson, Glasshouse Row, Conisborough, said at the beginning of August he missed a jacket and vest from the house. He asked Humphreys about them, and she told him they were in pawn. He had not given prisoner permission to take them away. Wigglesworth lived just across the street. On the 5th August Humphreys left him. After the prisoner had gone he missed a number of articles. He found a number of tickets in the house. One said “20th May, one jacket and vest;” one referring to two sheets, one relating to a number of sheets, and one labelled blankets. He never gave either of the prisoners permission to take the articles away or to pawn them. The value of the whole lot was 50s.
John Smith, labourer, Glasshouse Row, Conisborough, said he lived with Gibson up to June or July last. Humphreys was then living with Gibson. He went away and left a jacket and waistcoat, pair of trousers, vest and hat in charge of prisoner Humphreys. He arranged with Humphreys to send them on. He wrote for them, but he never received them. He never gave permission to the prisoners to pawn them. The value of the lot was £4.
Wm. Bell, manager of Mr. Whittaker’s pawn shop, Mexborough, said that the five tickets produced were given on articles pawned by Humphreys, which were identified by Gibson. He was not prepared to say to whom the prisoner said the articles belonged to. Witness had handed the articles produced over to Sergt. Ambler at Conisborough. The jacket and vest were pawned by Robert Davison.
Robert Davison, aged 14, said he lived with his father in Thornhill Street, New Denaby. He knew Humphreys and remembered her living with Gibson, and also her leaving the place. She sent him with a message to the pawnshop at Mexborough, and also a coat and vest. He took them to Whittaker’s. Prisoner said he had to try and get 15s. for them, but he only got a ticket for 13s. When witness returned he gave prisoner Humphreys the ticket.
John Smith, generally known as “Big Jack,” a labourer, living at Marr Street, New Denaby, said up to last August he lived with Gibson. He remembered the other John Smith living there. He also remembered him leaving. After witness left, prisoner Humphreys asked witness to buy a hat. She said that the other John Smith had sent her a letter to sell the hat to obtain money to pay the carriage of his articles going.
Cross-examined, he did not ask him to write Smith to sell the hat.
Sergt. Ambler, Conisborough, said he received prisoner Humphreys into custody on another charge. He charged her with stealing the five articles enumerated on the tickets, the property of Wm. Gibson. He asked her to produce the articles. She replied, “I have pawned them and Gibson knew of it.” He also charged her with stealing the articles produced belonging to Smith. She replied, “I own to stealing Cotney’s clothes, but not the hat.”
He read the warrant over to Wigglesworth, and charged her with aiding and abetting the prisoner Humphreys in stealing the articles belonging to Wm. Gibson. She replied, “They were never stolen.”
On the 9th inst. he received the articles belonging to Gibson from witness Bell. He also received the coat and vest, trousers, and boots, the property of John Smith. He received the hat now produced from John Smith known as “Big Jack.” In answer to the charge defendant had nothing to say, and they were committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.
Mary Ann Humphreys was further charged with obtaining under false pretences a silver watch, the property of John Templeman Clarke, jeweller and watchmaker, Mexborough, the value of £6 10s.
John Templeman Clarke, jeweller and watchmaker, Mexborough, said on the 20th May, 1892, prisoner came to his shop. She brought a card with her from his agent, Mr. Askham. The ticket said on it, “Please supply bearer with a £3 watch, per B.B.A.” She said she wanted it for Walter Gibson. Witness let her have a £6 6s. watch for Walter Gibson, consequent upon him paying so well by instalments upon another one. He did not know at that time but what she was Gibson’s wife.
Benjamin Askham, 20, Orchard Place, Doncaster, deposed to sending prisoner as Mrs. Gibson with the ticket produced to Mr. Clarke. He did get to know afterwards that she was supplied with the watch. It was agreed to be paid for by weekly instalments. He believed at the time that it was Mrs. Gibson. She said she was Mrs. Gibson. He had no contract with Mrs. Gibson, but he had with Walter Gibson.
Wm. Bell, pawnbroker, Mexborough, said he received the watch in pledge on May 30th from prisoner.
Prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge.