Tuesday 2 December 2014

Stolen Billeting Money

Luton open-topped tram No.6, 1908 [Z1306/75/18/21]

Wednesday 2nd December 1914 (Luton): Mrs Mary Kingham has appeared at the Luton Borough Sessions today charged with stealing £5 in £1 notes from her friend, Mrs Emily Appleby of Oak Road. Mrs Appleby had received the money on Monday afternoon as back pay for billeting. Shortly after this Mrs Kingham came to her house and they went out together to pay some calls. That evening they caught a tram car home, on which Mrs Kingham offered to pay Mrs Appleby’s fare.

When she arrived home Mrs Appleby realised her purse and the money it contained was missing. When first confronted by the police Mrs Kingham denied knowing anything about the money, but she later went upstairs and fetched two £1 notes. With the contents of Mrs Kingham’s purse Detective Inspector Attwood was able to recover £2 7s 10½d. Mrs Kingham claimed that Mrs Appleby’s purse had only contained £3, although her daughter later offered to repay £5 by Saturday. Mrs Kingham professed herself heartbroken at what had happened, saying it was done on impulse because she was in great trouble. She was a widow, one of her daughters had only a little work and the other none, and her son was subject to fits. Her eighteen year old daughter was prepared to give everything she had and work to pay the £5 so that her mother’s conscience could be clear. The Mayor adjourned the case for a week to give Mrs Kingham and her daughter a chance to make the repayment.

Source: Luton News 3 December 1914

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