A Baker’s Loss. — On the 4th of February, a large drawer, containing a/c books and about £4 in copper, was taken from the shop of Mr. White, a baker, in Bourne street, during the temporary absence of the owner. The theft was discovered shortly after 8.p.m., and it turned out that a man had been seen walking up the Crown Lane towards the East hill with just such a drawer on his head. The next morning the drawer and books were found concealed among the East-hill furze, but the money was missing, as might be supposed.
A Burglary was committed on the 14th of February at a lapidary’s shop in Commercial road, and a valuable quantity of agates, broaches, coat-links, buttons, studs and other articles, were carried off.
Robbery of £40. — On the 15th of May, a man who said his name was George Fielding, was temporarily employed by Mr. Tassell, of George street, in painting a house for Philip Kent, in All Saints parish; at the same time a sum of about £40 was missed from the premises. The loss was discovered at about half-past two, and as the man had absconded, he was, of course, suspected of being the thief. Scouts were therefore sent in search, of whom P.C. Waters was one, who, having got on his trail, overtook him at Westfield. Waters saw him go into a beer-shop, where he ordered a pint of ale and paid for it with a half sovereign[1]. Waters, feeling sure of his man, immediately handcuffed him, and on him were found 16 sovereign[2]s and a half-sovereign[3]. He was indicted for stealing a pocket-book containing £20 in notes, 19 sovereign[4]s and two half sovereign[5]s from a bed-room drawer in Mr. Kent’s house at Mercer’s Bank. The conduct of the prisoner was very peculiar. He admitted the charge, and said how we came to know that the drawer was open was in moving the drawers to place a chair to paint a beam he had to do. The most important witness against the man was the Rev. Michael Gibbs, a visitor, whose evidence is here summarised. This gentleman said, I was coming to Hastings from Fairlight, when prisoner met me and showed me an old-fashioned pocket-book, containing four five-pound Hastings Bank notes, saying he had picked it up about 200 yards off. He asked me what he had better do with it. I told him he had better take the notes to the Bank, where, perhaps, the owner might be known, and he would get rewarded. He asked if I would take them, as he was sent on an errand. I declined, but thinking the affair curious, I took the numbers of the notes, and recommended him to take them to the Bank as soon as possible. On reaching Hastings I heard of the robbery, and hastened to tell Mrs. Kent of the occurrence. When Waters took the man in custody, he told him he had thrown the pocket-book away, and whilst being brought to Hastings, he pointed to the spot, but it could -
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
