Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
13th October 1827
Windsor and Eton
On Monday last, at the sitting of the magistrates at the Town Hall, William Dunn, a lad, was charged with stealing a gown piece, the property of Mr.Wells, linen draper, of Thames-street; and Charles Harrison was charged as being an accessory to the act. It appeared that the prisoners were observed together by Mr.Holderness, constable, on the evening of Friday, the 5th inst, and as they were lurking about different shops he watched their movements; they attempted to take an article from outside Mr.Brown's shop, the linendraper, but they did not succeed, and they also failed on a similar attempt on Mr.Wells's, as the customers were walking in and out; Mr.Holderness then acquainted Mr.Hodges, another constable, of the men, and sometime after the prisoner Dunn passed his house with a bundle; he followed and overtook the man, and found the gown piece in his possession. This was afterwards proved to be the property of Mr.Wells, and he now identified it by his private mark; it had not been sold. Harrison having previously been seen to enter the George the Fourth public house, he was apprehended at that place, but nothing was found upon him. It is supposed that Dunn took the property after Mr.Holderness lost sight of him. Dunn was committed to the borough gaol as principal, and Harrison as accessory, to be tried at the ensuing sessions for the offence.
On the same day, John Mason, Charles Wesley, Elizabeth Wilson, and Eliza Pike, were committed to three months to the House of Correction, at Reading, having been found committing acts of vagrancy . On Thursday Rosetta Smith and Anne Stokes were committed for the same offence, and for a similar term.
Aylesbury
The state of Aylesbury gaol, on a comparison with former years, is highly satisfactory. The total number of prisoners was on Wednesday last only 101; last year at the same time it was 124. It is gratifying also to find that there has been a diminution in the number of persons committed for poaching during the year. From the month of January, 1826, to the week corresponding to the present in that year, there had been 44 persons imprisoned on convictions under the game laws; this year, from January to the present time, the number of convictions for poaching has only been 29. The total number of convictions under the game laws in 1826 was 89.
The Rev.Frederick Lee of Upper Clatford, Hants, was convicted on two penalties of �5 each at the meeting of the Justices of the three hundreds of Ashendon, on Wednesday last, for having used a gun on the 13th and 15th of September, not being a qualified person. John Matthews, gamekeeper to T.P.Wickham, Esq., was the informer, and Wm.Matthews, another keeper, proved the offence. In retaliation, Mr.Robinson, an attorney, and friend of Mr.Lee, laid an information against John Matthews, who gave the information, for shooting without the requisite qualifications. The case will be heard at the next meeting of Magistrates. Mr.Robinson also threatened to lay an information against the youngest son of Mr.T.P.Wickham.
James Allen was convicted on the same day, and before the same Magistrates, of stealing apples, the property of his master. Mr.John Morris, of Upper Winchendon, and committed to the House of Correction for fourteen days.
On Saturday last an inquisition was taken before Mr.Times, coroner for the county of Bedford, at Houghton Regis, on view of the body of Elizabeth Evans, an infant aged ten years, who having called at a neighbour's house on an errand, on the Wednesday preceding, was left with three other children belonging to the people of the house whilst the mother went to the bakehouse. The eldest of three children (who upon examination was found fully competent to be sworn) stated at the inquest that she and the child Evans were standing before the fire, and Evans was in the act of pinning her (the witness's) tippet, when by some means her pinafore took fire; she ran into the street for assistance, which was promptly afforded her - her clothes being taken off as quickly as possible, and surgical aid procured immediately, but she was notwithstanding so much burnt that she languished until Friday morning and then expired. Verdict - Accidentally burnt.