Stealing was a habit, and the hidden pockets didn't help !

Transcript

Hertfordshire Mercury,18th May 1918

At Hatfield Petty Sessions, Elizabeth Aldridge (64), a wayfarer of respectable appearance, was charged with stealing 2lbs of jam, half a pound of golden syrup, and other things from a dinner basket belonging to James Dench, a painter, who was working in Mr Drage’s house and had left his basket in the harness room overnight on 7th May, but found it gone the next morning.

Police Sergeant Olding arrested the defendant just before she got to Hitchin, finding her sitting on a heap of stones by the side of the road.  The jam was still in her possession, but the golden syrup she had eaten, whilst some meat she had thrown away.  She had a quantity of other things which were missing which he found she had concealed under her skirts and petticoats, on the inside of which she had large flannel pockets.  She admitted stealing the goods from Mr Drage’s harness room.

There were seven other previous convictions and, as she had no defence to offer the Bench, she was sent to prison for 2 months.

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