Impudent theft from Maidstone prison (1868)

Post date: Mar 17, 2013 6:25:41 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 25th April 1868.

MAIDSTONE COUNTY GAOL. Saturday.

—Before W. Balston, Esq. THE HEIGHT OF IMPUDENCE.

Aaron Skinner, of Wateringbury, was charged with stealing 14 handkerchiefs, the property of prisoners in Maidstone prison, and also three combs the property of the county.

William Fenwick deposed—l am a warder in the gaol at Maidstone. I know the prisoner Aaron Skinner, and have done so the last three or four months, he having been prisoner under sentence of six months' imprisonment, for embezzlement and obtaining money by false pretences. During the latter part of his imprisonment, which expired on the 17th inst., the prisoner has been employed in assisting the store-keeper, by which he had access to the stores of the prison and also the clothes of the prisoners undergoing imprisonment in the gaol. The prisoner was confined in the north division of the prison, and it was my duty to take the prison clothing from him on his being about to be discharged, and to deliver the clothing belonging to him when he came in. On the morning the 17th I gave prisoner his clothes, and I saw him dress, and before taking him to the gatekeeper to be discharged I searched him, and found three combs, the property the county, in his waistcoat pocket, also ten handkerchiefs, some silk and some cotton—four handkerchiefs tied round one of his legs and the remainder in his coat pockets. Before searching him I asked him if he had anything belonging to the prison, and he answered, " No." In reply to my question, he said he did not know how the combs came into his pocket. He said the handkerchiefs were his own. After finding five handkerchiefs I further searched him, and found eleven more, two of which were his own. As I was taking him to the Governor's office I picked up three more combs. Prisoner was formally remanded.