Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - 27 April 1888
PETTY SESSIONS, Saturday, April 21st.— [Before C B. Kingdon, H. C. Okeover, W. B. Badnall, J. Simpson, and A. Jervis Smith.]Thos. Waring and Wm. Turner, labourers, of Ashbourne, were brought up and charged with stealing a watch, the property of Mr. Denzel Maskery of Shirley, on the 14th. April.— It appeared from the evidence of Maskery, who is not very bright in intellect, that he came to Ashbourne about three or four o'clock on the day in question and went to the Union Workhouse to see if there was a woman there who would suit him as a housekeeper. When he got to the gate he met the two prisoners coming away from the Workhouse. They said that if he would pay for a pint of beer they would go back with him, which they did. After they came out they went, as it afterwards transpired, to the Brittania Inn, Church Street, where they had some beer. He then stated that they all three left the house together, and that the prisoner told him he would see him safe home. They went up Derby Road together, and when last Osmaston Lane end they left him, but as they left he found one of them had taken his watch, value about 4s. 6d. He then turned back to Ashbourne and gave information to the police, but he would not do so now. May Turner was one of those men. There was a great difficulty getting evidence from him.— Police constable Turner stated from information received he went to Waring's house and found both prisoners there. He asked Waring for the watch, and he produced it, but stated that Turned knew nothing about it. He took them both to the lock-up, where Maskery stated that they were the two men that had been with him.— Turner was afterwards admitted to bail.— Waring now pleaded guilty, but said that Turned was innocent.— Turner now called several respectable witnesses.— Mr. J. Hawksworth, landlord of The Brittania, stated that he left the house before Maskery and Waring did, and that he saw him get into a conveyance for Mayfield when the robbery took place, several miles away.— The Magistrates said that Turner had perfectly proved his innocence, and Waring was sent to gaol for six weeks hard labour.