Searching through newspapers for Richard Warneford’s second marriage, I found he was quite familiar with the inside of a courtroom.
In 1853 a “Grand Jury” dropped a bill against Thomas RICHARDSON, for stealing two silk handkerchiefs belonging to Richard.
In 1867 Charles THOMPSON, of Husthwaite, stole two lace shawls, one cashmere shawl and three-quarters of a yard of silk velvet from John GROVES, a draper in Parliament Street, York. Not quite satisfied with his acquisitions, the thief went along to Richard’s shop and took a further 6½ yards of silk velvet. A few days later, in Northallerton, he attempted to sell the goods. Sergeant NICHOLSON watched him go from door to door for a short while before taking him into custody on suspicion. Thompson explained to the court that he had been indulging in betting on horse races.
A much greater loss was suffered by Richard in 1851.
According to The National Archives, this is what £150 would have purchased back then…
Poor William. He has a place on the Shared Tree (MP22-323), courtesy of a christening record, and the names of his parents enabled their 1851 household to be quickly found. His father, Henry, was an Ostler and his mother a Sextoness. I wonder what she thought as her boy was sent to prison for 12 months.
In January the following year, Richard was up before the beak with another draper, John DRAKE. They were charged with “having neglected to scrape, sweep, and cleanse the flags fronting their shops, after having been duly ordered by the local board of health to do so”. The authorities wanted to set an example and acknowledged they were no more guilty than many other shopkeepers in the town. As the first to be summoned for the offence, they were let off without a fine.
