Divorce, 1930

DERBYSHIRE DIVORCE CASES.

ELEVEN PETITIONS GRANTED AT THE ASSIZES.

[…]

Eleven divorce petitions were dealt with by Mr. Justice Mackinnon at the Derbyshire Assizes to-day.

[…]

Pioletta [sic] Evelyn Thompson, hotel bookkeeper of Warwick, who married Edward Cecil Thompson, of High-street, Derby, at Gainsborough, in 1923 [sic], said she would have brought proceedings earlier, quoting Lilian Ada R. Harvey, of Derby, as co-respondent, but she had not the means to do so. A decree was granted.

(Nottingham Evening Post, 15th November 1930)

Stealing from a shop in Derby

Women Steal From Derby Stores

TWO Derby women who told the police that they “had had a talk about seeing someone take something from Woolworth’s and decided to do the same,” appeared at the Borough Police Court yesterday on charges of theft.

Mrs. Ethel Delaney (29), of 40 Forester-street, Derby, admitted stealing five pairs of silk stockings, valued at 10s. 10d., the property of F. W. Woolworth, Ltd. She was fined 20s.

Mrs. Lilian Ada Rimington Thompson (43), of 32, Forester-street, who admitted stealing eight pairs of stockings, two reels of cotton, and two pairs of shoelaces, worth together 16s. 5d., was fined 10s.

Councillor E. Eagle, chairman of the Bench, announcing the magistrates’ decision in this case said that there were special circumstances which had been considered. Apparently Mrs. Thompson had had a very sad life.

Detective Chief Inspector S. Henman said that Mrs. Thompson did munition work in the last war, and served with the Wrens, giving a false age. She had “married” shortly after the war, and then found that her husband was already married. He had obtained a divorce from his first wife, and they were married again, but he left her about 10 years ago.

The inspector added that Mrs. Thompson alleged that her husband owed her £288 in maintenance arrears.

VICAR’S LETTER

The Rev. J. C. Makinson, Vicar of St. Werburgh’s, Derby, appeared in court on behalf of Mrs. Thompson, and handed a letter to the magirstrates explaining her circumstances.

Inspector Henman said that an assistant at the hosiery counter had seen Mrs. Delaney near the counter and became suspicious of her actions. She informed the supervisor and she was kept under observation. A policeman stopped her outside the stores and she produced the stockings from under her coat.

Mrs. Thompson was also stopepd outside the store and produced the articles which she admitted stealing.

Both women said that they were very sorry for what had happened, and did not know what had made them do it.

(Derby Evening Telegraph, 24th November 1942)