Echoes of our past….. Past News
4th August 1860
MAIN NEWS –
The townspeople were excited at the news,
that William Roper a plasterer and James Cafferny a labourer, had been charged
with stealing from the premises of Mr Roberts, a small ware dealer of Low
Pavement, Chesterfield.
William Roper was a “thoroughly
trustworthy man” and the news of his crime had caused much interest in the
town of Chesterfield.
It seems the incidents occurred over the three weeks
previous and the stolen objects included; two pieces of oil cloth, a box
containing 26 worsted balls, 10 packets of Glenfields crystal, 16 boxes of
matches, 12 lead pencils and a 6 small “pin poppits”. Roper was found out after Superintendent
Radford had been given information about the thefts and proceeded to Cafferny’s
home, which he then searched and found the items. Cafferny stated that he had been given the
oil cloth eight of ten days ago by Roper.
Cafferny was working as a labourer for Roper at Mr Robert’s
premises. A search of Roper’s house
found the other missing items, but his wife said she had got them from Eliza
Page, sister-in-law to Mr Roberts, who lived at the shop premises.
But, this was not to be the end to the story!
Whilst searching the house of William Roper, the police
found a large counterpane, some china dishes, napkins, an antique punch ladle
and a number of articles which were identified as belonging to his Grace the
Duke of Devonshire. Roper had been working for the Duke of Devonshire at
Hardwick Hall for some time and had been stealing various items during this
time. The list of stolen items was large
and Roper had even stolen from his fellow tradesmen; a pulley block from Mr
Hoyland, plumber, joiners tools from Mr G Heath and paint cans and brushes from
Mr A Dutton.
William Roper was tried at the County Police Court on
Thursday 2nd August; he had nothing to say to the charge and was
committed to take his trial at the October Quarter Sessions. Both Roper and Cafferny were transported on
the 2.23pm train to Derby Gaol. It was
reported that a large concourse of people assembled at the station to witness
their departure.
*Elizabeth Holmes & Mary Gambles, “two nymphs of the pave” were charged,
the former with stealing, the later with receiving. Holmes took a bag containing a quantity of
leather, sprigs and twine from shoemaker Joseph Slinn of Haughton, near
Ashover. He had stopped off for
refreshments at a public house in the Shambles.
Holmes denied stealing and said it was done as a joke. The Bench agreed with Holmes and the two
women were dismissed of the charge against them.
*Jonathan Blank of the Boot & Slipper was charged
with having his house open for the sale of drink on Sunday morning. Sergeant Vincent entered the house to witness
a man, drain his mug he was drinking out of.
Sergeant Vincent then went into the kitchen to find several me “shulling
peas”. The defence argued that the men
were drinking coffee and the case was dismissed.
*Sarah Fearn, 20 a servant, pleaded guilty at the Summer
Derbyshire Assizes to concealing the birth of a female child by secretly
disposing of the dead body in a pit at Hartshorne. Sarah was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment.
MARRIAGES –
*William Holehouse to Mary Briggs, Chesterfield
*Benjamin Bunting to Mrs Matilda Needham of Ashover
DEATHS –
*Ellen, wife of Alfred Fogg aged 19 years
*Mrs Martha Rees aged 33 years
*Mrs Mary Walsh ages 63 years
*Mr Thomas Turner, blacksmith aged 68 years
*Phoebe, daughter of Charles Shirley, Derby Road aged 17
years
*Mr Joseph Biggin, clerk to Brampton Brewery aged 35 years
*Nathan, son of Thomas Longden of Brimington aged 18 years
SPORT –
Cricket – Staveley v The Wednesday Club
Described as an easy win for Wednesday after a feeble opposition.
AND FINALLY…
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eyebrows? Then try Emilie Dean’s Crinilene! Guaranteed to “beautify hair and checking greyness in all its stages” Priced at “2s per bottle, large bottles containing more
than 4 times the small ones at 5s each”
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