A FEMALE GROOM AND BURGLAR

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 68, 29 May 1869, Page 3

A FEMALE GROOM AND BURGLAR

At Tunbiidge Police Court, a young woman, aged about twenty-one, who some years ago ran away from her service as nursemaid to a family at Knockbolt, was committed for trial at the ensuing' Maidstone Assizes on a charge of burglariously breaking and entering two houses at Brenchley, a night or two ago. She now gave the name of Mary Field, and is of somewhat prepossessing appearance. She some five or six years ago went to the neighboxirhoocl of Horsemonden aa a young man, and found employment as a hop-picker. In consequence of her exceedingly good behaviour and superiority of appearance, the Rev. J. W. Buxton took an interest in her, and procured for her a situation in the neighbourhood. She behaved very well, and after a time she went to the Bull Inn, Brenchley, where she for two years followed the vocation of potboy. She next went as stable-boy or under-groom to Mr. William Monekton, surgeon, of Bvenchley, after which the Rev. P. Storr, the vicar of the parish, took her into his service as groom. During this time she had to exercise the horses, drive people out, wait at table in livery, and perform a number of other offices attendant on her post as groom, and this she did without raising the slightest suspicion of her sex. To the surprise of every one she last wook absconded, and since her disappearance a letter was received from a lady in London making inquiry about the runaway, v/ho was in reality a girl who left her situation without acquainting her parents^, who thought her dead, snd who had offered a reward of £5 for information. From the shop of a grocer, which was one of the places the prisoner was charged with breaking into, tyro old checks were stolen, and these were found in the pocket of the coat that the prisoner had left at her lodgings. This led to the prisoner's apprehension by Superintendent Dance, of the Kent county constabulary, who found her sitting at home with her parents at Green-street Green, nursing a baby. He charged her with committing the burglaries (the only booty of which was the two old checks), which she at first denied, but afterwards admitted that she was the person who committed them, and Tyislied. it to \>s irncLersfcoocl tKat no one assisted her. He took her in custody, and on searching her box he found , it c&ntained a quantity of male attire, a rifleman's uniform and accoutrements, some false beards and curls, and a number of other things used for disguise. She was then wearing female attire, and said she committed the burglaries because she wanted money, as she had collected 10a. for a missionary society, and could not pay it. She took the checks thinking them to be good ones. Since she left home^she had gone by the name of Henry Peck, and had for pome time sold brooms about the country disguised as a man, with false beard and curls. At Brenchley she was paying her attentions to a young Jady in the neighbourhood,