Charles Parramor, a young thief, describing himself as an engine driver, of Croydon, was charged with stealing two umbrellas on the 11th inst. Emmie Etherton (15) deposed that she missed her umbrella from the porch of the school between four and five o'clock.

The mother of witness also recognised the umbrella. Harry Cheesman said that prisoner came into the Railway Inn, Balcombe, on the day in question, with two umbrellas, and offered them for sale at a shilling each. No one bought them, and he left for Cuckfield. PC EIiott said be found prisoner that evening at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Cuckfield and found that he had sold two umbrellas to persons in the house. Prisoner denied having had them, but one of the purchasers came forward and said she had bought it for sixpence.

Prisoner made no reply. The second charge was preferred by Alice Greenfield (15), who said that she missed her umbrella at the same time and place as the previous witness. The umbrella produced was hers. She valued it at 2s. 6d. William Mitchell stated that prisoner came into the Wheatsheaf Inn about 9 o’clock, and offered him an umbrella for a shilling, but he let him have it for ten pence. Prisoner protested his innocence, but he was committed for trial. On being taken to the lock-up he made an attempt to run away, but was soon recaptured.

Mid Sussex Times, 16 December 1884

Image: Street merchants of Paris: cherry-merchant, umbrella-merchant, The Girl’s Own Book. 1833.

Contributed by Malcolm Davison.