South Eastern Gazette, 9 October, 1860.

Stealing Money from the Till.

On Monday, before C. R. C. Petley, Esq., Henry Wood was charged with stealing one sovereign and two half-sovereigns, on the 29th September, the property of Richard Ashdown, of the "George" public-house, Shoreham. Fanny Ashdown, wife of the prosecutor, said that between eleven and twelve o’clock on the night in question she was in the bar, when the prisoner came to the door and asked for a pint of beer. He afterwards asked for bread and cheese, and she went out to the pantry to get it. On her return she found the prisoner inside the bar. She at once looked inside the till and missed a sovereign and two half-sovereigns, which were wrapped up in a piece of paper. About five minutes before she left the bar the money was there, and she had not left the bar until going out for bread and cheese. She accused the prisoner of having taken the money, but he denied it. She then sent for Mr. Alfred Willis, the parish constable, who stated that on searching the prisoner he found the stolen coins in his possession, wrapped up in the paper, and prisoner said that some one must have put them there. He afterwards asked him (Willis) to go and see Mr. Ashdown and do what he could for him, as he was very sorry for what he had done.

Committed for trial.

South Eastern Gazette, 23 October, 1860.

FRIDAY—SECOND COURT.

(Before James ’Espinasse, Esq., Chairman).

Henry Wood was indicted for stealing £2, the property of Wm. Ashdown, innkeeper, at Shoreham, on the 29th September. Mr. White was for the prosecution. The prisoner went to the prosecutor's house on the above night, asked for some, beer, and then for some bread and cheese. To get this, prosecutor's wife had to leave the bar, and when she returned she found the prisoner there, Mrs. Ashdown then looked in the till, and missed a sovereign and two half-sovereigns which she had seen just before leaving the bar. On accusing prisoner with stealing it, he denied having done so, and threw out of his pocket two sixpences, saying that was all the money he had about him. A constable was then sent for, and prisoner given in charge, when he asked to be forgiven, saying he was sorry for what he had done. When searched one sovereign and two half-sovereigns were found upon him.

Prisoner now said he did not know the money was about him — it must have been put into his pocket. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he having been six times previously convicted, he was sentenced to four year's penal servitude.