Southeastern Gazette, 15 March 1853.

FOURTH COURT. (Before Mr. Sergeant Channell).

Mary Downing, 23, for stealing seven cigars, and six paper wrappers, value 10 1/2d., the property of John Dence, at Gillingham.

The prisoner was employed by prosecutor, who keeps the "British Flag" beer-house at Gillingham. While prisoner was in his service he missed some property. The cigars were kept in a place to which prisoner had access in the morning. On the 17th February some cigars were missed, and prisoner was accused of having taken them. The prisoner protested her innocence, but on the arrival of a constable she took from her pocket seven cigars, wrapped in six tobacco wrappers. She then threw them into the cigar box, saying "There, take them, if they are yours, but I purchased them last night at Chatham." On her way to the station-house, however, she said they had been given to her by a friend.

Acquitted.