Context Note: Mrs Lowe was Jane Adelaide Jenkins (Gardner) Lowe, the fourth and final wife of Isaac Lowe (1814-1886).
EXTENSIVE THEFT OF JEWELLERY AT ASTON.
At the Aston Police Court, to-day, before Messrs. Collins, Ryland, and Pemberton, Fanny Adams (50), domestic servant, South Grove, Erdington, was charged with stealing, on the 20th ult., one gold Geneva watch, a gold chain, a spade ace guinea, six pairs of gold earrings, two gold brooches and other articles, of the value of £30. 10s. Mrs. Lowe, wife of Isaac Lowe, Brighton Villa, Victoria Road, deposed that the prisoner entered her employ as a domestic servant on the 11th August, being well recommended. On the 20th ult. witness had occasion to go out on business, and on returning, about dinner-time, found prisoner was intoxicated. Mrs. Lowe went out again about three o’clock, and on returning about six found the prisoner was helplessly drunk, having taken the tap from a barrel of beer n the cellar and supplied herself in this way. Witness accused her of being drunk, whereupon prisoner remarked, “Shure, and it is for the want of it that I drunk.” Witness went out again in the evening, and on returning found the prisoner coming down the entry leading from the house with a big bundle of clothing under her arm. Witness said, “You are not going to rob me, are you, Ann?” and prisoner replied that she was, using some rather strong expressions towards the prosecutrix. The prisoner ran away into the house, and witness followed her. When prisoner was ascending the stairs she dropped Mrs. Lowe’s cash-box, which it was found, had been broken open. On examining the house, witness found that the drawers in her room had been opened, and a quantity of jewellery removed, including that mentioned in the charge. Witness went to the bottom of the entry, and got a gentleman to come to her assistance. Upon this the prisoner ran away, and jumped over a high wall at the bottom of the yard. She was subsequently arrested at Erdington by Police-constable Marks, but on being charged with the offence she denied that she had ever been at Aston. – There was nothing known against the prisoner, but the Bench, considering that the case was a very bad one, sentenced her to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
(Birmingham Mail, 3rd September 1884)
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