By Rebecca See
On Tuesday, two little children, whose heads hardly reached the
top of the dock, were placed at the bar before Mr. Jardine, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. Their very appearance told the court want they were in there for. Mrs. Mims, a baker on
Drury Lane, claimed that they, about eight o'clock last evening, went into the shop and asked for a quarter loaf, and while her back was turned
to get it for them, they stole a half quarter loaf,
value 2½d, which was lying on the counter, and
made off with it. The police constable, deposed, that he was on duty in Drury Lane, and seeing them quarrelling over the loaf, he asked them where they had got it. One of them answered, they had stolen it. After ascertaining how they came by it, he took them into custody. In
defence, the prisoners said they were starving. Mr. Jardine sentenced them both to be once whipped in the House of Correction.
Household Words. Volume 1. The Great Penal Experiments. William Henry Wills. P 252.
8/6/1850.
No comments:
Post a Comment