DEPRIVATION AS WELL AS POVERTY, APRIL 20, 1726.

DEPRIVATION AS WELL AS POVERTY, APRIL 20, 1726. On this date in 1726, ten year old Mary Broadbent was tried for theft at the Old Bailey in proceedings reported here. (The date at this site changes, but the site permits you to browse by date). The charges were brought by Mary Broadbent’s father, who accused her of stealing an old frock and several other rags. The charges were brought on April 5, 1726. Mary had been committed to Newgate for the intervening 15 days. Mary’s father and stepmother were the witnesses against her and testified that she had confessed the theft to them. Then came the witnesses on her behalf, including her aunt. The aunt (her father’s sister) testified that Mary’s father and his new wife would beat Mary until she would confess to anything. The aunt had challenged the father as to whether he intended that Mary be hanged or transported. He replied, “I don’t care, if I can but get rid of her.” The rags Mary was accused of stealing had been used by Mary to dress her doll. The jury acquitted Mary. The court arranged that Mary live with her aunt at the father’s expense.