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AN UNGRATEFUL LODGER.
George Reed, a labourer, was charged on remand with stealing a shawl, value 6s., and 5s. in money, the property of Robert Wilson.
It appeared that the prisoner had lodged since August last with prosecutor (who is groom to Dr. Allnutt) in Finsbury-street, Buckland, but on the previous Saturday night he did not come home to sleep. Between four and five o’clock the following (Sunday) afternoon, prosecutor and his wife went to the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, (kept by the prosecutor’s wife’s mother) and remained there all night. Prosecutor went home the following morning about eight o’clock, when everything appeared all right. On his wife’s coming home between one and two o’clock the same day, she missed the articles in question from a chest of drawers. She had seen the money safe the previous Saturday evening, and the shawl a few days previously. A shirt belonging to prisoner that they had left in the kitchen, was gone, as also an old pair of Wellington boots belonging to prosecutor, the latter of which, on prisoner’s apprehension, he was found to be wearing.
Catherine Caine, a single woman, residing in White’s-row, proved prisoner’s offering the shawl, which he said he had taken from “the old woman,” to her, and she refused to take it, thinking it might have been stolen. While he was offering it to her, he was apprehended by P.C. Lewis.
He was committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions upon a charge of housebreaking.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 24 October, 1863