Hannah Bailey, a servant at Loddington Hall, was accused of theft of property belonging to Miss Mault in Fraulein Reinhardt’s school in Loddington Hall. She was convicted of larceny and imprisoned for 2 months on 2 accounts each. Miss Helene, or Annie Reinhardt, lived in Kettering, and was a private teacher, and then Principal of South College Boarding School, age 39 in Kettering in 1891, from Germany. (Kelly’s Directory).

Northampton Mercury August 11, 1888

Kettering, Petty session – Wednesday, Before Mr G L Watson (in the chair), Mr J J Houghton, Colonel Arthur, and Mr J T Stockburn

Charges of theft by a servant

Mary Hannah Bailey, domestic servant, Loddington, was charged with stealing five yards of lace, one pair of stockings, and one pocket handkerchief, the property of Florence Annie Mault, housekeeper at Fraulein Reinhardt’s School, Loddington Hall, some time within the last six months. Prosecutrix having given evidence as to her suspicions of prisoner, and the finding of articles in her box, Inspector R. Hensher stated that he received the articles produced from the previous witness, who pointed them out to witness as they lay on the floor of the prisoner’s room at Loddington Hall. Prisoner, who was present, said witness might take them away as they did not belong to her, and on being charged with stealing them she merely laughed and made no further response. The same prisoner was further charged with stealing one silver brooch, one gold ring, and a 3d. piece, the property of Rachel Smith, a pupil at Mrs Reinhardt’s School on the 30th June. Evidence was given by Miss Smith to the effect that the brooch in question, which was made out of a Jubilee half-crown, was left with the other things mentioned in her bedroom, and on the 30th June the ring and threepenny piece were found in the middle of some cakes, which were being cut up. The cakes were put back with some others into the cupboard, and on the following day five of the number were missing from the place. Having reason to suspect that the things had been taken by one of the servants, witness went with Miss Mault to make a search. They went first to the prisoner’s sleeping room, and there found several things belonging to Miss Mault amongst prisoner’s things. The articles belonging to witness were not amongst the things in prisoner’s box but, on being asked to turn out her purse, prisoner did so, and the brooch and threepenny piece were found in it. She was questioned about the ring, but declined to say anything about where it was. Miss Mault gave evidence of a similar character, and Inspector R. Hensher stated that he found the missing ring in the cesspool of a closet at Loddington Hall on the 31st July. Prisoner made no defence in either case, and having been previously convicted, was committed for trial at the forthcoming Quarter Sessions.

(in November she was convicted of 2 offences of larceny and sentence to 2 months for each to run concurrently, but then in April 1889 she was given 3 months for larceny, so possibly reduced - her name wrongly recorded as Jane Hannah Bailey!)

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