A young-looking woman, named Frances Walker, was charged at the Chesterfield Borough Police Court on Monday with stealing a suit of clothes, a pair of boots and stockings, the property of Joseph Daykin, on the 21st inst.

The Chief Constable stated that the prosecutor was a collier, and lived at 15 Factory Street, Chesterfield. The prisoner had been lodging at his house since January, and assisting in the house work. On the 21st inst., when he returned home from work at 5.30 in the evening, he missed the earticles mentioned, and the prisoner had gone. He then gave information to the police, which led to the prisoner's apprehension. When charged with the theft, the prisoner replied, "I have nothing to say, only that I took them."

Joseph Daykin gave evidence to the effect that the articles produced were his property, and he valued them at 25s.

Prisoner, who had several other convictions recorded against her, was sent to Derby for two months with hard labour.

Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 26th March 1902

Events background

Joseph's wife, Maria Roe, died at the age of 40 in 1899. The 1901 census shows Joseph (45) and their four children living at 15 Factory Street, Chesterfield with Maria's father, Edward Edwin Roe, a retired pothouse labourer, aged 71. Edward died in early 1902 and, presumably, Frances Walker arrived to keep house.