Maidstone Telegraph, Saturday 8 February 1868.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS. Stealing a Bottle of Wine.

At the Police Court, on Friday, Mary Hasemere, of Harvey Town, was charged with stealing, on the 30th inst, from the "Victoria Tavern," Haltrey Farm, Tonbridge Wells, a pint bottle of wine, value 1s 9d, the property of Mrs. Hammett. It appears that prisoner has been in her service since Christmas, and on Thursday morning she observed her go into the scullery with a bottle under her apron. She was watched and seen to hide it away. Mrs. Hammett subsequently charged her with the theft. Prisoner at first denied it, but afterwards said she had taken it because her mother was sick. Sergeant Howard apprehended prisoner, and on the way she admitted to him that she had taken the wine. Superintendent Embery informed the bench that prisoner had been previously convicted at Mark Cross Sessions, for robbing her master, Mr. Ellis, for which she had been sentenced to two months' hard labour. It appeared Mrs. Hammett has missed other things, and suspected other persons Mr. Browell said the prisoner had an opportunity of retrieving her character, but she had fallen into bad habits again. He thought it was quite likely she had been concerned in taking the other articles which had been missed. Under all the circumstances of the case, he felt it his duty to sentence prisoner to three months' imprisonment.