PETERSFIELD.
Agent—MR. G. DUPLOCK
ROBBING AN EMPLOYER.—At the Magistrates' Clerk's Office, on Monday, Hiram Sorrell was brought up in custody before J. D. Lewis, Esq., charged with stealing money and goods from his employer, Mr. W. H. Robertson, at Liss.—Prosecutor deposed: I am a grocer and draper at Liss, and prisoner was in my employ about five weeks as assistant in the shop. On Tuesday, June 30th, in consequence of information I received from my baker, George Haslar, I went to P.C. Troke, and directed him to take prisoner into custody: I was present when he did so. I told prisoner I wished to talk to him about some money which he had been taking from the till. He denied it at first, but afterwards confessed it, and said he would give me all the money found upon him if I would forgive him, as he had never been guilty before. I told him, I should I not do any such thing; I had several times missed money from the till, but had not been able to detect the thief. After prisoner was in custody I made enquiries, and found I had lost other things—two pairs of worsted hose, a silk neck-tie, and a cotton pocket-handkerchief. The articles now produced are mine; they were taken from the drapery shop. When I engaged prisoner he told me he had no money, and I advanced him a portion of his salary to pay his railway fare..—George Haslar deposed: I am a baker in the employ of Mr. Robertson, at Liss. On Monday, the 16th June, I was putting up a blind at a window which overlooked the counter directly on the till. I saw prisoner open the till, and take something out, which he put into his pocket. I did not say anything to him on either occasion, nor mention it to my master. On Monday, the 29th, prisoner told me he was going to leave without giving any notice, because he had lost a letter which he would not have the master see for the value of 100l. About ten o'clock that night I told Mr. Robertson what I had seen.—P.C. Charles Troke deposed: On Tuesday, June 30th, I went to Mr. Robertson's shop about eight o'clock in the evening; prisoner was in the shop. Mr. Robertson told him to shut the door, and he did so. He then said, "Sorrell, I want to talk to you about robbing the till; I have sent for Troke for that purpose. What money have you got in your possession? Let me see." Prisoner then took from his trouser pocket the bag which I now produce, and tipped out its contents on the table. There was 2l. 7s. 11d. I asked, "How do you account for the possession of so much money, Sorrell?" Mr. Robertson said, "You know I advanced you 30s. to pay your fare, and you have not received any wages since you have been here." He said he borrowed the money. I asked him to name the person of whom he borrowed it, and he said that it was my business to find out. I then took him into custody. He turned towards Mr. Robertson, and said, " Forgive me, sir; forgive me; I will give back all the money found upon me, as I was never guilty before." On searching prisoner at the station I found the cotton handkerchief which I produce in his pocket. I also found in a carpet bag belonging to him the silk neck-tie and pair of hose which I produce.—Prisoner declined to say anything in his defence, and was committed for trial at the assizes.
Hampshire Telegraph 15 July 1868
HANTS MIDSUMMER ASSIZES.
ROBBING AN EMPLOYER—Hiram Sarrell (Sorrell) was indicted for stealing 2l. 7s. 11d., two pairs of woollen socks, one neck tie, an one pocket handkerchief, the property of William Henry Robertson, his master, at Liss, on the 29th of June, 1868.—Mr Clark prosecuted.—The prisoner was in the employ of the prosecutor, who is a baker and draper living at Liss. On the 29th of June he was out walking with a fellow shopman, when he said he had lost a letter and he would not let the master see it for 100l., and so returned home. In the evening he was seen by the witness with a bundle, and on previous occasions had been seen to take money from the till. Information was given to his master, who charged him with taking money from the till. He at first said he had not, but afterwards said he would give him all the money he had, if he would forgive him. He was given into the custody of P.C. Troke, who took him to Petersfield, and on searching his carpet bag he found a neck tie, a pocket handkerchief, and a pair of hose.—Guilty. Twelve months’ hard labour.