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William Gibbons a labour, was charged with unlawfully and knowingly obtaining on the 1st April from Mrs. Beer, a laundress, a print dress valued at 10s, the property of Ann Markwick with intent to defraud.

Ann Beer deposed; I am a laundress and am the wife of Thomas Beer a carrier, living behind the Wesleyan Chapel Buckland. Last Monday night the prisoner came to my house about half past eight and said he had come for Mrs. Markwick’s dress I took the dress produced to wash for Mrs. Markwick. Knowing the prisoner to lodge at Mrs. Markwick’s I gave him the dress. He said that Mrs. Markwick did not want it done up and said she had sent him for it and in consequence of that belief I gave him the dress. That is the dress produced and I have not seen it since until this morning.

Ann Markwick deposed; I am the wife of Stephen Markwick and live at the Britannia Public House Buckland. The prisoner has been lodging with us for about ten months. The print dress produced is mine. Prisoner knew the dress belonged to me. I sent my little girl with it to Mrs. Beer’s last Monday morning. It was given to my little girl in the presence of Sarah Woodward. The prisoner was not present. I did not send him for it. I have never sold or agreed to sell the dress to anyone.

Police Sergeant Steven’s said; last night about half past eleven I apprehended the prisoner on a warrant at the Britannia Public House Buckland in company of Sarah Woodward. I read the warrant issued to him and he said “all right” I asked him where the dress was and Woodward answered “I pledged the dress at Canterbury” I asked her for the duplicate and she produced it from her pocket. From it I find that the dress (with a jacket) is pawned at Messrs. Hurst at Canterbury.

Sarah Woodward who came to court as a witness was then called and was charged with the same offence as Gibbons. Mrs. Markwick was then re-called and said the prisoner Sarah Woodward has been lodging at my house for three months. Both prisoners knew the dress was mine. The female was in the room when I sent the dress to be washed. The prisoners did not live together in my house. The prisoner Woodward said she paid 2s for the dress and had paid 1s to have it done up.

Mrs. Markwick; I lent the dress to the prisoner on Good Friday, as she had no other to put on. She gave it back to me on Monday and I then sent it to be washed. Prisoner never paid me 2s for it neither had she paid for having it done up but she paid 6d to me for drink she owed for which I passed over to my husband. I have frequently lent her little things to wear but have never charged her for hire. She has paid 3s a week for a room upstairs. Police Sergeant Steven’s added I then took the prisoner to the Station. This morning I have been to Canterbury and have received the dress from Messrs. Hurst.

The prisoner Gibbons was then asked to make his statement. He said; last Monday night I told Woodward I should go to Canterbury, as I had got no work. She said she would go too and we packed out things. Before we started she asked me to go over to Mrs. Beer’s and ask for Mrs. Markwick’s dress which she had bought. I did so and gave it to her and she took it to Canterbury.

The Bench said Gibbons would be discharged and would be called as a witness against Woodward. He said I am a labourer. I have been lodging at the Britannia Public House, Buckland about ten months. The prisoner Woodward had been lodging there about three months. Last Monday night I was sitting in the taproom when the prisoner came in and asked me what was the matter as I was rather dull. “Well” I said “I have got no work and I think I shall start off on the road to Canterbury” She said if I went she would go too. I packed up the few things I had and she did the same. She said there was one thing she had forgotten and that was the dress she had bought of Mrs. Markwick and said “Will you go up to Mrs. Beer’s and fetch it” I said “Yes” and I went. She told me to bring it washed or not. I fetched it and gave it to her. She put it in her bundle and took it to Canterbury. When we got there she said she would be obliged to pawn it to get something to eat. I went to a woman I knew and we got lodgings.

In reply to Mr. Smith witness said I have not been living with the prisoner at the Britannia Public House. We did not have separate rooms at Canterbury. In reply to prisoner witness said you did not tell me you had given 2s for the dress but that you had bought it of Mrs. Markwick.

In answer to the Bench Mrs. Markwick said; I don’t know how the prisoner gets her living. She has always paid for her room. She sometimes helped me with my work-acts as servant.

The Mayor; acts as your servant and pays you 3s a week for her lodgings? it seems very strange arrangement.

Prisoner still persisted in saying she paid 2s for the dress.

To Mrs. Markwick; did I not say I would pay you the rest when I saw Charlie in the evening?

Mrs. Markwick; you never paid me 2s.

Mr. Smith; who is Charlie?

Prisoner; (crying) one of the 38th.

Mrs. Markwick; a young man she used to keep company with.

Mr. Smith; where does she belong to?

Mrs. Markwick; Ramsgate.

Mr. Smith; do her friends ever visit her?

Mrs. Markwick; they have never been here since she has been with me.

The prisoner was put on remand. Sarah Woodward charged on remand with having a print dress value 10s was discharged. (1872)